The company OLA has been trying to paint India's mobility landscape green over the last few years. After establishing into the two wheeler market of EV, OLA is looking at entering into four wheeler market as well. How does company see India's electric mobility landscape and what are its plans for electric future? To talk all that and much more today we're joined by Varun Dubey, chief marketing officer OLA electric from Bengaluru.

OLA electric plans to enter four-wheeler market | Varun Dubey Exclusive

Volkswagen must change its approach to how it sells electric vehicles (EV) in China, the world's largest car market, Chief Executive Herbert Diess said, in a response to poor EV sales there.

"Sales are picking up but it requires focus and different approaches as the customers for the EVs are much younger and different to our customer base we are having with the more traditional brands like Volkswagen in China," Diess told journalists after first-half results release.

By the end of the year, Volkswagen wants to sell between 80,000 and 100,000 of its all-electric ID series in China. In the first half, deliveries of battery electric vehicles (BEV) in China stood at 18,285.

"We are noticing that we have to change our approach," Diess said.

"We have the financial power, we have the sales network, we are coming forward with new formats in the shopping malls, we are becoming much more digital and it's going fast because we are much faster in China than we are in the rest of the world."

Volkswagen must change its approach to how it sells electric vehicles (EV) in China, the world's largest car market, Chief Executive Herbert Diess said, in a response to poor EV sales there.

Volkswagen must change its approach to how it sells electric vehicles (EV) in China, the world's largest car market, Chief Executive Herbert Diess said, in a response to poor EV sales there. "Sales are picking up but it requires focus and different approaches as the customers for the EVs are much younger and different to our customer base we are having with the more traditional brands like Volkswagen in China," Diess told journalists after first-half results release. By the end of the year, Volkswagen wants to sell between 80,000 and 100,000 of its all-electric ID series in China. In the first half, deliveries of battery electric vehicles (BEV) in China stood at 18,285. "We are noticing that we have to change our approach," Diess said. "We have the financial power, we have the sales network, we are coming forward with new formats in the shopping malls, we are becoming much more digital and it's going fast because we are much faster in China than we are in the rest of the world."

We need to change e-car approach in China: Volkswagen CEO

Tesla Inc showed signs of divergent strategies in the world’s two biggest automotive markets, raising prices to boost profit margins in the United States while keeping prices steady in China and hoping to grow sales there.

Tesla raised prices for the most affordable versions of Model 3 and Model Y about a dozen times this year in the United States, according to data tracked by Reuters. At the same time, Tesla recently introduced an affordable Model Y version in China, where it refrained from price hikes.

Tesla posted record vehicle deliveries in the second quarter, and the price increases in North America boosted quarterly profits to a record.

But in China, the world’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) market, Tesla faces competition from local rivals and problems that include product recalls, high-profile protests by consumers and pressure from regulators.

Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi said the introduction of the lower-priced Model Y in China ”may make sustained margin improvement difficult” for Tesla and raises questions about ”the health of Chinese demand.”

A study by Bernstein analysts found Tesla owners in China were less enthusiastic and had lower repurchase intentions than owners in the United States and Europe.

Tesla raised prices for Model Y Long Range at least six times in the United States this year, bumping by $5,500 to $53,990. In China, the world’s most valuable carmaker raised prices of the Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan only once this year.

The Model Y version has a price tag of 276,000 yuan ($42,394). The company also has launched promotional campaigns in China such as loan offers.

”I think Tesla is looking to be as competitive as it can be in China. Lower prices will be a part of that aggressive market positioning,” Roth Capital Partners analyst Craig Irwin said. ”There is a very large difference in battery prices in the U.S. and China, as well as local vehicle manufacturing costs.”

Tesla started production at its Shanghai factory in late 2019. It has boosted the sourcing of cheaper local components, including batteries from China’s CATL and LG’s Chinese factory.

”It wasn’t so long ago that the group was trimming prices in the U.S. to gain scale and maximize profitability, and it feels like we’re now seeing that in China too,” Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Nicholas Hyett said.

The low cost of producing local EVs in China would have a lasting effect on Tesla, said Gene Munster at Loup Ventures.

”Teslas are on average 3x the cost of a typical EV made in China so they have to be priced less than the U.S. to compete,” Munster said. ”Prices of Teslas in China will be below (the) rest of the world for the next decade.”

Tesla also cut costs and boosted margins in the U.S. market by getting rid of some parts like a radar sensor and lumbar support.

Tesla shares rebounded 0.5% in morning trade on Wednesday after falling the previous session.

CHINA MARKET SHARE SLIPS

In China, Tesla’s share slipped to 11% in the battery electric vehicle market, which excludes plug-in hybrid cars, in the second quarter from 18% a year earlier, according to GLJ research. But data from Morgan Stanley showed Tesla still held a U.S. battery-electric market share of nearly 70% as of February, although that was down from 81% a year earlier.

China accounts for 44% of the global EV market, a much bigger share than the 17% held by the United States.

In China, Tesla faces competition from electric vehicle makers like Nio Inc and Xpeng Inc. In the United States, Tesla’s brand is stronger and its main rivals are legacy automakers like Ford and General Motors, which generate only a fraction of their sales from EVs.

GLOBAL CHIP SHORTAGE

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reiterated that the company’s mission is to make electric cars affordable and has blamed vehicle price increases on a shortage of chips and raw materials.

Tesla is coping with the chip shortage by using alternative chips and rewriting software, Musk said.

He provided a cautious outlook for chip shortage. ”It does seem like it’s getting better,” he said on the second-quarter earnings call, but added: ”it’s hard to predict.”

Tesla Inc showed signs of divergent strategies in the world’s two biggest automotive markets, raising prices to boost profit margins in the United States while keeping prices steady in China and hoping to grow sales there.

Tesla Inc showed signs of divergent strategies in the world’s two biggest automotive markets, raising prices to boost profit margins in the United States while keeping prices steady in China and hoping to grow sales there. Tesla raised prices for the most affordable versions of Model 3 and Model Y about a dozen times this year in the United States, according to data tracked by Reuters. At the same time, Tesla recently introduced an affordable Model Y version in China, where it refrained from price hikes. Tesla posted record vehicle deliveries in the second quarter, and the price increases in North America boosted quarterly profits to a record. But in China, the world’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) market, Tesla faces competition from local rivals and problems that include product recalls, high-profile protests by consumers and pressure from regulators. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi said the introduction of the lower-priced Model Y in China ”may make sustained margin improvement difficult” for Tesla and raises questions about ”the health of Chinese demand.” A study by Bernstein analysts found Tesla owners in China were less enthusiastic and had lower repurchase intentions than owners in the United States and Europe. Tesla raised prices for Model Y Long Range at least six times in the United States this year, bumping by $5,500 to $53,990. In China, the world’s most valuable carmaker raised prices of the Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan only once this year. The Model Y version has a price tag of 276,000 yuan ($42,394). The company also has launched promotional campaigns in China such as loan offers. ”I think Tesla is looking to be as competitive as it can be in China. Lower prices will be a part of that aggressive market positioning,” Roth Capital Partners analyst Craig Irwin said. ”There is a very large difference in battery prices in the U.S. and China, as well as local vehicle manufacturing costs.” Tesla started production at its Shanghai factory in late 2019. It has boosted the sourcing of cheaper local components, including batteries from China’s CATL and LG’s Chinese factory. ”It wasn’t so long ago that the group was trimming prices in the U.S. to gain scale and maximize profitability, and it feels like we’re now seeing that in China too,” Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Nicholas Hyett said. The low cost of producing local EVs in China would have a lasting effect on Tesla, said Gene Munster at Loup Ventures. ”Teslas are on average 3x the cost of a typical EV made in China so they have to be priced less than the U.S. to compete,” Munster said. ”Prices of Teslas in China will be below (the) rest of the world for the next decade.” Tesla also cut costs and boosted margins in the U.S. market by getting rid of some parts like a radar sensor and lumbar support. Tesla shares rebounded 0.5% in morning trade on Wednesday after falling the previous session. CHINA MARKET SHARE SLIPS In China, Tesla’s share slipped to 11% in the battery electric vehicle market, which excludes plug-in hybrid cars, in the second quarter from 18% a year earlier, according to GLJ research. But data from Morgan Stanley showed Tesla still held a U.S. battery-electric market share of nearly 70% as of February, although that was down from 81% a year earlier. China accounts for 44% of the global EV market, a much bigger share than the 17% held by the United States. In China, Tesla faces competition from electric vehicle makers like Nio Inc and Xpeng Inc. In the United States, Tesla’s brand is stronger and its main rivals are legacy automakers like Ford and General Motors, which generate only a fraction of their sales from EVs. GLOBAL CHIP SHORTAGE Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reiterated that the company’s mission is to make electric cars affordable and has blamed vehicle price increases on a shortage of chips and raw materials. Tesla is coping with the chip shortage by using alternative chips and rewriting software, Musk said. He provided a cautious outlook for chip shortage. ”It does seem like it’s getting better,” he said on the second-quarter earnings call, but added: ”it’s hard to predict.”

Tesla hikes electric car prices in the US; holds a line in China

Even before making its India entry, Tesla is making noises to attract attention, a trait Tesla’s boss Elon Musk is known for.&nbsp;

Seeking a cut in import duty on its highly expensive electric cars, Tesla has once again ignited a debate on the import duty on cars.&nbsp;

However, this time the debate is limited to electric cars and the auto industry in India is divided over Tesla's demand.&nbsp;

In response to an Indian's request to launch electric cars, Tesla's high profile boss Elon Musk tweeted "We want to do so, but import duties are highest in the world by far of any large country! Moreover, clean energy vehicles are treated the same as diesel or petrol, which does not seem entirely consistent with the climate goals of India".&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We want to do so, but import duties are the highest in the world by far of any large country! 
 
Moreover, clean energy vehicles are treated the same as diesel or petrol, which does not seem entirely consistent with the climate goals of India.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1418641920595791872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

By doing so Musk is lobbying hard for low duty on the import of electric cars. Hyundai India boss MD S S Kim has also backed Elon Musk’s call to lower the duties as it will help grow the EV market.&nbsp;

However, the founder of India's Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal was quick to dismiss these demands. Expressing his views, Bhavish tweeted “Strongly disagree with both. Let’s have confidence in our ability to build indigenously and attract global OEMs to build in India, not just import. We won’t be the first country to do so!"&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Strongly disagree with both. Let’s have confidence in our ability to build indigenously and also attract global OEMs to build in India, not just import. We won’t be the first country to do so! <a href="https://t.co/n6k7ShYeJX">https://t.co/n6k7ShYeJX</a>
— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) <a href="https://twitter.com/bhash/status/1419945635130736644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

By opposing Tesla and Hyundai's demands on cutting down on import duties, Ola is championing the cause of India's 'Make in India' scheme.&nbsp;

Ola has recently ventured into the electric mobility space. It is setting up India's largest electric vehicle facility spread over 500-acre in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri. Here it is planning to make 10 million vehicles annually something which is music to the ears of the present government.&nbsp;

Ola also recently opened bookings of its e-scooter at Rs 499, garnering over 1 lakh bookings in advance.

Tesla, on the other side, has been talking about its intention to Indian market for years but it is only in the recent past some serious activity on its entry is visible as the U.S based EV maker has registered its offices, hired few top employees and even vehicles have been imported for homologation.&nbsp;

Still, sometimes it feels like Tesla is looking for something more as even the high-end luxury car market is still very small in India. It is in this market and to the prospective owners of Mercs, BMWs and Audis, Tesla would like to sell its ultra-expensive cars.&nbsp;

But other luxury car players are also not sitting silent. India has recently seen a flurry of launches in electric vehicle space, for those who can afford these electric luxury SUVs costing upwards of Rs 10 mn or $134,000. Last week Audi launched the e-tron in India at a starting price of Rs 99.99 lakh (ex-showroom) along with its entire SUV range including the e-Tron 50, the e-tron 55 and the e-tron Sportback 55. Much before that Mercedes-Benz launched its luxury electric SUV EQC and Jaguar launched its i-Pace in the same price bracket.&nbsp;

Government as expected is also not in a mood to give sops to import of hi-end electric cars, they don't get anything from it. The Indian government has indicated it is interested in giving concessions only if Tesla starts manufacturing cars.&nbsp;

Also, for an electric car market contributing to just around 5,000 units including affordable e-hatchbacks out of around 3 million cars sold annually in India, the sops don't make sense at all.&nbsp;

Sops or concessions if any should be given to e-scooters or those at the bottom of this e-pyramid and not those at the highest level of the vehicle market unless they are ready to invest first to create jobs and facilities. 
 
(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Even before making its India entry, Tesla is making noises to attract attention, a trait Tesla’s boss Elon Musk is known for. Seeking a cut in import duty on its highly expensive electric cars, Tesla has once again ignited a debate on the import duty on cars.

Even before making its India entry, Tesla is making noises to attract attention, a trait Tesla’s boss Elon Musk is known for. Seeking a cut in import duty on its highly expensive electric cars, Tesla has once again ignited a debate on the import duty on cars. However, this time the debate is limited to electric cars and the auto industry in India is divided over Tesla's demand. In response to an Indian's request to launch electric cars, Tesla's high profile boss Elon Musk tweeted "We want to do so, but import duties are highest in the world by far of any large country! Moreover, clean energy vehicles are treated the same as diesel or petrol, which does not seem entirely consistent with the climate goals of India". We want to do so, but import duties are the highest in the world by far of any large country! Moreover, clean energy vehicles are treated the same as diesel or petrol, which does not seem entirely consistent with the climate goals of India. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 23, 2021 × By doing so Musk is lobbying hard for low duty on the import of electric cars. Hyundai India boss MD S S Kim has also backed Elon Musk’s call to lower the duties as it will help grow the EV market. However, the founder of India's Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal was quick to dismiss these demands. Expressing his views, Bhavish tweeted “Strongly disagree with both. Let’s have confidence in our ability to build indigenously and attract global OEMs to build in India, not just import. We won’t be the first country to do so!" Strongly disagree with both. Let’s have confidence in our ability to build indigenously and also attract global OEMs to build in India, not just import. We won’t be the first country to do so! https://t.co/n6k7ShYeJX — Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) July 27, 2021 × By opposing Tesla and Hyundai's demands on cutting down on import duties, Ola is championing the cause of India's 'Make in India' scheme. Ola has recently ventured into the electric mobility space. It is setting up India's largest electric vehicle facility spread over 500-acre in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri. Here it is planning to make 10 million vehicles annually something which is music to the ears of the present government. Ola also recently opened bookings of its e-scooter at Rs 499, garnering over 1 lakh bookings in advance. Tesla, on the other side, has been talking about its intention to Indian market for years but it is only in the recent past some serious activity on its entry is visible as the U.S based EV maker has registered its offices, hired few top employees and even vehicles have been imported for homologation. Still, sometimes it feels like Tesla is looking for something more as even the high-end luxury car market is still very small in India. It is in this market and to the prospective owners of Mercs, BMWs and Audis, Tesla would like to sell its ultra-expensive cars. But other luxury car players are also not sitting silent. India has recently seen a flurry of launches in electric vehicle space, for those who can afford these electric luxury SUVs costing upwards of Rs 10 mn or $134,000. Last week Audi launched the e-tron in India at a starting price of Rs 99.99 lakh (ex-showroom) along with its entire SUV range including the e-Tron 50, the e-tron 55 and the e-tron Sportback 55. Much before that Mercedes-Benz launched its luxury electric SUV EQC and Jaguar launched its i-Pace in the same price bracket. Government as expected is also not in a mood to give sops to import of hi-end electric cars, they don't get anything from it. The Indian government has indicated it is interested in giving concessions only if Tesla starts manufacturing cars. Also, for an electric car market contributing to just around 5,000 units including affordable e-hatchbacks out of around 3 million cars sold annually in India, the sops don't make sense at all. Sops or concessions if any should be given to e-scooters or those at the bottom of this e-pyramid and not those at the highest level of the vehicle market unless they are ready to invest first to create jobs and facilities. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

WINGS & WHEELS | A divided house over Tesla's clarion call on import duties

Fake cheers, empty seats and the sound of pounding feet: welcome to the Covid-era Tokyo Olympics, which Japan seems determined to hold at all costs.

An athletics test event brought home the reality of hosting an Olympics during the pandemic, with athletes competing in a muted atmosphere and excitement hard to muster.

Foot-strikes echoed around Tokyo's 68,000-capacity Olympic Stadium during Sunday's track events, with recorded crowd noises reaching a crescendo as the runners approached the finish.

A fanfare of music greeted the end of the race, before the runners quickly departed down the tunnel, leaving a smattering of media and officials in the otherwise empty stadium.

"It's weird running in a stadium with no fans," US sprinter Justin Gatlin said after winning the men's 100m.

"It feels almost like a time trial or kind of like an intra-squad meet."

The athletics meet, one of a series of test events taking place in Tokyo, involved more than 400 competitors, only nine of them from overseas.

The atmosphere could be similar at this summer's coronavirus-delayed Games, with overseas fans already barred and organisers set to decide in June how many domestic spectators can attend, if any at all.

Although the test events are unusual, they lend weight to the argument that the Olympics can be held despite the pandemic, which has left Tokyo and other areas under a state of emergency.

There was more noise outside the stadium on Sunday, with around 100 people protesting against an Olympics that polls show a majority of Japanese oppose.

"Covid-19 infection numbers are high in Tokyo and Osaka, with many severe cases," said protestor Takashi Sakamoto.

"I would like the money (for the Games) to be used in hospitals instead," he told AFP.

A new poll on Monday by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily found 59 percent of respondents want to cancel the postponed 2020 Games, which will open on July 23. The poll did not offer the option of a further postponement.

A separate survey by the TBS television channel found 37 percent back cancellation, while 28 percent want the Games delayed again.

<h2>- 'Beyond safe' -</h2>

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was forced on the defensive on Monday, insisting in parliament he has "never put the Olympics first" and his priority remains "the lives and health of the Japanese people."

An online petition urging the Games be cancelled has gathered more than 315,000 signatures since last Wednesday, but Games organisers insist the mega-event can be held safely with strict virus rules.

"I felt beyond safe," said Gatlin. "I've been tested every day, either saliva or nasal swab every morning.

"The bubble has been very successful. The only time I've seen the outside is when we get on the bus to go to the track."

The rules were similarly strict at the Diving World Cup the previous weekend, which featured more than 200 divers from almost 50 countries somersaulting in silence with no fans present.

"We've been spitting in tubes a lot," said British diver Tom Daley.

There were some frustrations, with Germany's sport director Lutz Buschkow describing the restrictions as slightly claustrophobic.

"The most disappointing thing is that we can't breathe any fresh air. That's a really big burden for the athletes and trainers," he told reporters.

"It would at least be nice if we got a chance to walk in the hotel garden or car park... it would be good if there was a way to fix these things."

Gatlin said he hoped organisers might be "just a little more lenient" come the Games, but that is unlikely.

In an indication of the risks, organisers reported two coronavirus cases during the events: a diving coach who tested positive on arrival in Japan and was quarantined, and a support member of a rowing team who tested positive during the competition.

But neither case forced a halt to events, and there were no immediate reports of additional cases being detected.

Fake cheers, empty seats and the sound of pounding feet: welcome to the Covid-era Tokyo Olympics, which Japan seems determined to hold at all costs. An athletics test event brought home the reality of hosting an Olympics during the pandemic, with athletes competing in a muted atmosphere and excitement hard to muster.

Fake cheers, empty seats and the sound of pounding feet: welcome to the Covid-era Tokyo Olympics, which Japan seems determined to hold at all costs. An athletics test event brought home the reality of hosting an Olympics during the pandemic, with athletes competing in a muted atmosphere and excitement hard to muster. Foot-strikes echoed around Tokyo's 68,000-capacity Olympic Stadium during Sunday's track events, with recorded crowd noises reaching a crescendo as the runners approached the finish. A fanfare of music greeted the end of the race, before the runners quickly departed down the tunnel, leaving a smattering of media and officials in the otherwise empty stadium. "It's weird running in a stadium with no fans," US sprinter Justin Gatlin said after winning the men's 100m. "It feels almost like a time trial or kind of like an intra-squad meet." The athletics meet, one of a series of test events taking place in Tokyo, involved more than 400 competitors, only nine of them from overseas. The atmosphere could be similar at this summer's coronavirus-delayed Games, with overseas fans already barred and organisers set to decide in June how many domestic spectators can attend, if any at all. Although the test events are unusual, they lend weight to the argument that the Olympics can be held despite the pandemic, which has left Tokyo and other areas under a state of emergency. There was more noise outside the stadium on Sunday, with around 100 people protesting against an Olympics that polls show a majority of Japanese oppose. "Covid-19 infection numbers are high in Tokyo and Osaka, with many severe cases," said protestor Takashi Sakamoto. "I would like the money (for the Games) to be used in hospitals instead," he told AFP. A new poll on Monday by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily found 59 percent of respondents want to cancel the postponed 2020 Games, which will open on July 23. The poll did not offer the option of a further postponement. A separate survey by the TBS television channel found 37 percent back cancellation, while 28 percent want the Games delayed again. - 'Beyond safe' - Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was forced on the defensive on Monday, insisting in parliament he has "never put the Olympics first" and his priority remains "the lives and health of the Japanese people." An online petition urging the Games be cancelled has gathered more than 315,000 signatures since last Wednesday, but Games organisers insist the mega-event can be held safely with strict virus rules. "I felt beyond safe," said Gatlin. "I've been tested every day, either saliva or nasal swab every morning. "The bubble has been very successful. The only time I've seen the outside is when we get on the bus to go to the track." The rules were similarly strict at the Diving World Cup the previous weekend, which featured more than 200 divers from almost 50 countries somersaulting in silence with no fans present. "We've been spitting in tubes a lot," said British diver Tom Daley. There were some frustrations, with Germany's sport director Lutz Buschkow describing the restrictions as slightly claustrophobic. "The most disappointing thing is that we can't breathe any fresh air. That's a really big burden for the athletes and trainers," he told reporters. "It would at least be nice if we got a chance to walk in the hotel garden or car park... it would be good if there was a way to fix these things." Gatlin said he hoped organisers might be "just a little more lenient" come the Games, but that is unlikely. In an indication of the risks, organisers reported two coronavirus cases during the events: a diving coach who tested positive on arrival in Japan and was quarantined, and a support member of a rowing team who tested positive during the competition. But neither case forced a halt to events, and there were no immediate reports of additional cases being detected.

Fake cheers, empty seats: Tokyo gives glimpse of Covid-era Olympics

London's public transport authority has banned Indian ride-hailing company Ola citing 'public safety' failings.

London bans India's Ola over safety reasons

Transport for London (TfL), the transportation regulator authority of London city has stripped Indian ride-hailing company Ola of its operating license, saying that the taxi app was not "fit and proper" to hold one, having put passenger safety at risk.

Ola, an Indian group which only began operating in London in February, has been told that its licence will not be renewed because of "public safety" failings.

Transport for London (TfL) said in a statement that it refused to grant Ola, a Softbank-backed operator, a new London private hire vehicle (PHV) operator's licence as it "cannot find it fit and proper to hold one after discovering a number of failures that could have risked public safety."

TfL's decision came days after Uber won a legal bid to restore its London operating licence, which was taken away over safety concerns, after a judge ruled that the company was a fit and proper operator despite "historical failings".

TfL said it had discovered a number of failures in Ola's operations, including breaches of its licensing regime, which led to unlicensed drivers and vehicles undertaking more than 1,000 passenger trips on the platform's behalf.

Ola was also accused of failing to notify Tfl of the breaches when they were first identified.

"Ola can continue to operate pending the outcome of any appeal process", TfL said, adding that Ola had 21 days to appeal against TfL's decision.

In an emailed statement, Ola said it was working with TfL during the review period and "have sought to provide assurances and address the issues raised in an open and transparent manner".

"Ola will take the opportunity to appeal this decision", the company said, adding it would continue to operate as normal.

(With inputs from agencies)

Transport for London (TfL), the transportation regulator authority of London city has stripped Indian ride-hailing company Ola of its operating license, saying that the taxi app was not "fit and proper" to hold one, having put passenger safety at risk.

Transport for London (TfL), the transportation regulator authority of London city has stripped Indian ride-hailing company Ola of its operating license, saying that the taxi app was not "fit and proper" to hold one, having put passenger safety at risk. Ola, an Indian group which only began operating in London in February, has been told that its licence will not be renewed because of "public safety" failings. Transport for London (TfL) said in a statement that it refused to grant Ola, a Softbank-backed operator, a new London private hire vehicle (PHV) operator's licence as it "cannot find it fit and proper to hold one after discovering a number of failures that could have risked public safety." TfL's decision came days after Uber won a legal bid to restore its London operating licence, which was taken away over safety concerns, after a judge ruled that the company was a fit and proper operator despite "historical failings". TfL said it had discovered a number of failures in Ola's operations, including breaches of its licensing regime, which led to unlicensed drivers and vehicles undertaking more than 1,000 passenger trips on the platform's behalf. Ola was also accused of failing to notify Tfl of the breaches when they were first identified. "Ola can continue to operate pending the outcome of any appeal process", TfL said, adding that Ola had 21 days to appeal against TfL's decision. In an emailed statement, Ola said it was working with TfL during the review period and "have sought to provide assurances and address the issues raised in an open and transparent manner". "Ola will take the opportunity to appeal this decision", the company said, adding it would continue to operate as normal. (With inputs from agencies)

Transport for London bans India's Ola cabs over safety concerns

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to take necessary steps and consider bringing a law to regulate mobile app-based taxi service providers like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/courtesy-matters-uber-to-remove-riders-who-misbehave-or-damage-properties-despite-warnings-193758">Ola and Uber </a>to ensure the safety of women.

A bench headed by Justice S A Bobde was hearing a petition filed by Nipun Saxena related to safety and security of women. Nipun had filed the petition after Nirbhaya gangrape case in 2012.

The bench also comprising Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice B R Gavai asked the petitioner to make a representation before the government containing suggestion on the regulation of the app-based taxi services.

The court also asked the state governments to set up 'Crisis Centre' in each district to deal with sexual offence cases against women. It also asked states to comply with the guidelines and standard operating procedures framed by the Central government on the running of a Crisis Centre. 
 
A Crisis Centre helps sexual assault victims by providing counselling and other services. 
 
There have been several instances in the recent past across the country wherein women were assaulted while travelling in Ola and Uber cabs. 
 
(With reports from agencies)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to take necessary steps and consider bringing a law to regulate mobile app-based taxi service providers like Ola and Uber to ensure the safety of women.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to take necessary steps and consider bringing a law to regulate mobile app-based taxi service providers like Ola and Uber to ensure the safety of women. A bench headed by Justice S A Bobde was hearing a petition filed by Nipun Saxena related to safety and security of women. Nipun had filed the petition after Nirbhaya gangrape case in 2012. The bench also comprising Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice B R Gavai asked the petitioner to make a representation before the government containing suggestion on the regulation of the app-based taxi services. The court also asked the state governments to set up 'Crisis Centre' in each district to deal with sexual offence cases against women. It also asked states to comply with the guidelines and standard operating procedures framed by the Central government on the running of a Crisis Centre. A Crisis Centre helps sexual assault victims by providing counselling and other services. There have been several instances in the recent past across the country wherein women were assaulted while travelling in Ola and Uber cabs. (With reports from agencies)

Women safety: Supreme Court asks Centre to consider law to regulate Ola, Uber; directs states to set up crisis centres

Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc said on Monday it laid off 400 people globally from its marketing team.

As of December&nbsp;31, Uber had 22,263 employees, with 1,951 employees in sales and marketing team, according to the company's filing&nbsp;

Uber debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on May 10 at an IPO price of $45. The stock is currently trading nearly 2% below the IPO price.

The $75 billion platform connects drivers and passengers in 100 European cities.

Hamburg is the sixth German city in which&nbsp;Uber&nbsp;Technologies Inc has rolled out its full range of services, following a pledge last year by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to make a fresh in Europe's largest economy and seek responsible growth.

Hamburg is the sixth German city in which&nbsp;Uber&nbsp;Technologies Inc has rolled out its full range of services, following a pledge last year by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to make a fresh in Europe's largest economy and seek responsible growth.

Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc said on Monday it laid off 400 people globally from its marketing team. As of December 31, Uber had 22,263 employees, with 1,951 employees in sales and marketing team, according to the company's filing Uber debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on May 10 at an IPO price of $45.

Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc said on Monday it laid off 400 people globally from its marketing team. As of December 31, Uber had 22,263 employees, with 1,951 employees in sales and marketing team, according to the company's filing Uber debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on May 10 at an IPO price of $45. The stock is currently trading nearly 2% below the IPO price. The $75 billion platform connects drivers and passengers in 100 European cities. Hamburg is the sixth German city in which Uber Technologies Inc has rolled out its full range of services, following a pledge last year by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to make a fresh in Europe's largest economy and seek responsible growth. Hamburg is the sixth German city in which Uber Technologies Inc has rolled out its full range of services, following a pledge last year by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to make a fresh in Europe's largest economy and seek responsible growth.

Uber lays off 400 employees in marketing team

India plans to order Uber and Ola to convert 40 per cent of their fleet of cars to electric by April 2026, according to a source and records of government meetings to discuss new rules for clean mobility.

Uber and Ola, both backed by Softbank Group, would need to start converting their fleet as early as next year to achieve 2.5 per cent electrification by 2021, 5 per cent by 2022, 10per cent by 2023 before hiking it to 40 per cent, according to the person and the records that have been reviewed by Reuters.

Some taxi players, like Ola, have previously tried to operate electric cars in the country, but with little success given inadequate infrastructure and high costs.

New Delhi, however, is looking to push the new policy to boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as it tries to bring down its oil imports and curb pollution so it can meet its commitment as part of the 2015 Paris climate change treaty.

Niti Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and which plays a crucial role in policymaking, is working with several ministries on the new policy.

China, home to the world's top auto market, is already leading the world in electrification by setting tough EV sales targets for car makers and offering incentives to taxi operators to increase their fleet of clean-fuel cars.

EV sales in India grew three-fold to 3,600 in the year ended March but still account for about 0.1 per cent of the 3.3 million diesel and gasoline cars sold in the country over the period, industry data showed. China's electric car sales, meanwhile, rose 62 per cent in 2018 to 1.3 million vehicles.

In a meeting in New Delhi on May 28, Niti Aayog officials and the ministries of road transport, power, renewable energy and steel, as well as the departments of heavy industries and trade, were among those recommending taxi operators in India gradually convert to electric.

They also recommended that all new cars sold for commercial use should only be electric from April 2026, a change that would also apply to Uber and Ola, said the person who has direct knowledge of the matter but spoke on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

Motorcycles and scooters sold for commercial purposes, like food delivery or for use by e-commerce companies, will also need to be electric from April 2023, the person added.

India has seen a boom in food delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy, which counts Naspers and Tencent as investors. Sales by e-commerce firms like Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart are also rising.

Motorbikes too

The EV proposal comes weeks after the inter-ministerial committee recommended electrifying most motorbikes and scooters for private use and all three-wheeled autorickshaws within the next six to eight years.

While there are several electric scooter manufacturers in the country including Ather Energy, Hero Electric and Okinawa, there are only two car makers that build and sell electric cars - Mahindra &amp; Mahindra and Tata Motors.

Some taxi operators have so far had little success operating electric cars in India. Ola launched a pilot project in Nagpur in 2017 but a year later drivers, unhappy with long wait times at charging stations and high operating expenses, wanted to return to gasoline cars.

Ola, however, is not giving up yet.

Its Ola Electric Mobility unit in March that raised 4 billion rupees from investors including venture capital fund Tiger Global and Matrix Partners.

It also raised $300 million from Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors and formed a strategic partnership with the South Korean duo to help build India-specific EVs.

Modi's government in 2017 had set an ambitious target to electrify new cars and utility vehicles by 2030 but resistance from the industry forced it to scale back the plan.

India plans to order Uber and Ola to convert 40 per cent of their fleet of cars to electric by April 2026, according to a source and records of government meetings to discuss new rules for clean mobility.

India plans to order Uber and Ola to convert 40 per cent of their fleet of cars to electric by April 2026, according to a source and records of government meetings to discuss new rules for clean mobility. Uber and Ola, both backed by Softbank Group, would need to start converting their fleet as early as next year to achieve 2.5 per cent electrification by 2021, 5 per cent by 2022, 10per cent by 2023 before hiking it to 40 per cent, according to the person and the records that have been reviewed by Reuters. Some taxi players, like Ola, have previously tried to operate electric cars in the country, but with little success given inadequate infrastructure and high costs. New Delhi, however, is looking to push the new policy to boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as it tries to bring down its oil imports and curb pollution so it can meet its commitment as part of the 2015 Paris climate change treaty. Niti Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and which plays a crucial role in policymaking, is working with several ministries on the new policy. China, home to the world's top auto market, is already leading the world in electrification by setting tough EV sales targets for car makers and offering incentives to taxi operators to increase their fleet of clean-fuel cars. EV sales in India grew three-fold to 3,600 in the year ended March but still account for about 0.1 per cent of the 3.3 million diesel and gasoline cars sold in the country over the period, industry data showed. China's electric car sales, meanwhile, rose 62 per cent in 2018 to 1.3 million vehicles. In a meeting in New Delhi on May 28, Niti Aayog officials and the ministries of road transport, power, renewable energy and steel, as well as the departments of heavy industries and trade, were among those recommending taxi operators in India gradually convert to electric. They also recommended that all new cars sold for commercial use should only be electric from April 2026, a change that would also apply to Uber and Ola, said the person who has direct knowledge of the matter but spoke on condition of anonymity. Motorcycles and scooters sold for commercial purposes, like food delivery or for use by e-commerce companies, will also need to be electric from April 2023, the person added. India has seen a boom in food delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy, which counts Naspers and Tencent as investors. Sales by e-commerce firms like Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart are also rising. Motorbikes too The EV proposal comes weeks after the inter-ministerial committee recommended electrifying most motorbikes and scooters for private use and all three-wheeled autorickshaws within the next six to eight years. While there are several electric scooter manufacturers in the country including Ather Energy, Hero Electric and Okinawa, there are only two car makers that build and sell electric cars - Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors. Some taxi operators have so far had little success operating electric cars in India. Ola launched a pilot project in Nagpur in 2017 but a year later drivers, unhappy with long wait times at charging stations and high operating expenses, wanted to return to gasoline cars. Ola, however, is not giving up yet. Its Ola Electric Mobility unit in March that raised 4 billion rupees from investors including venture capital fund Tiger Global and Matrix Partners. It also raised $300 million from Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors and formed a strategic partnership with the South Korean duo to help build India-specific EVs. Modi's government in 2017 had set an ambitious target to electrify new cars and utility vehicles by 2030 but resistance from the industry forced it to scale back the plan.

India to order Uber, Ola to go electric by April 2026: Report

Hundreds of drivers for ride-hailing giant Uber and its local rival Ola went on strike in&nbsp;Delhi and Mumbai, on Monday, demanding higher fares to meet rising fuel costs that are eating away at their incomes.

Fuel prices in India have risen more than 20 per cent since the start of the year but drivers say fares have not grown at the same rate, making it difficult for them to meet expenses despite working longer hours.

"The companies don`t understand the issues drivers face ... they have reduced fares when they should be paying a higher rate," said Sunil Borkar, secretary at Mumbai taxi drivers` union Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh.&nbsp;

Borkar said there have been calls from some drivers for an indefinite strike in Mumbai until demands for higher fares are met. He was unsure about how many drivers would eventually join the strike, he added.&nbsp;

Uber said in a statement: "We regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver-partner community, due to a small group of individuals." It is committed to ensuring that drivers "continue to access a stable income", it added.

Ola did not respond to an email seeking comments.

In both cities, passengers said they had to wait longer than normal for Uber and Ola cars.

At a protest outside Uber`s office in Mumbai, dozens of drivers held up placards with messages including "Uber go back" and "Ola is the biggest thief" while shouting slogans like "down with Uber", according to a Reuters witness.&nbsp;

One protestor was seen angrily beating a poster of Ola`s founder Bhavish Aggarwal with a flip-flop. Some drivers who were still ferrying passengers were pulled up by protesters and asked to stop working, the witness said.&nbsp;

In Delhi, the strike by drivers was exacerbated by a separate stoppage by fuel pump owners demanding the city government cut the price of petrol and diesel in line with neighbouring states.&nbsp;

The rising cost of fuel, caused by higher oil prices and a weak rupee, is the latest setback for drivers already operating on thin margins. Their incomes have plunged over the past two years after Uber and Ola cut incentives to boost profitability.

When incentives were high many drivers quit well-paying jobs and took out loans to buy cars in the hope of higher earnings. As more drivers joined the platforms and the supply of cars increased, the companies started scaling back on incentives.&nbsp;

Some drivers say they are forced to work for up to 16 hours a day to make enough to pay interest on their loans, meet expenses and provide for their families.

Uber should consider increasing fares to make the situation sustainable, said one Uber driver who has been operating on the platform for three years, and who did not join the strike. He did not wish to be named.&nbsp;

He said some drivers stayed off the roads because they feared they would be targeted by those striking if they continued working. 
&nbsp;

Hundreds of drivers for ride-hailing giant Uber and its local rival Ola went on strike in Delhi and Mumbai, on Monday, demanding higher fares to meet rising fuel costs that are eating away at their incomes.

Hundreds of drivers for ride-hailing giant Uber and its local rival Ola went on strike in Delhi and Mumbai, on Monday, demanding higher fares to meet rising fuel costs that are eating away at their incomes. Fuel prices in India have risen more than 20 per cent since the start of the year but drivers say fares have not grown at the same rate, making it difficult for them to meet expenses despite working longer hours. "The companies don`t understand the issues drivers face ... they have reduced fares when they should be paying a higher rate," said Sunil Borkar, secretary at Mumbai taxi drivers` union Maharashtra Rajya Rashtriya Kamgar Sangh. Borkar said there have been calls from some drivers for an indefinite strike in Mumbai until demands for higher fares are met. He was unsure about how many drivers would eventually join the strike, he added. Uber said in a statement: "We regret the disruption caused to our rider and driver-partner community, due to a small group of individuals." It is committed to ensuring that drivers "continue to access a stable income", it added. Ola did not respond to an email seeking comments. In both cities, passengers said they had to wait longer than normal for Uber and Ola cars. At a protest outside Uber`s office in Mumbai, dozens of drivers held up placards with messages including "Uber go back" and "Ola is the biggest thief" while shouting slogans like "down with Uber", according to a Reuters witness. One protestor was seen angrily beating a poster of Ola`s founder Bhavish Aggarwal with a flip-flop. Some drivers who were still ferrying passengers were pulled up by protesters and asked to stop working, the witness said. In Delhi, the strike by drivers was exacerbated by a separate stoppage by fuel pump owners demanding the city government cut the price of petrol and diesel in line with neighbouring states. The rising cost of fuel, caused by higher oil prices and a weak rupee, is the latest setback for drivers already operating on thin margins. Their incomes have plunged over the past two years after Uber and Ola cut incentives to boost profitability. When incentives were high many drivers quit well-paying jobs and took out loans to buy cars in the hope of higher earnings. As more drivers joined the platforms and the supply of cars increased, the companies started scaling back on incentives. Some drivers say they are forced to work for up to 16 hours a day to make enough to pay interest on their loans, meet expenses and provide for their families. Uber should consider increasing fares to make the situation sustainable, said one Uber driver who has been operating on the platform for three years, and who did not join the strike. He did not wish to be named. He said some drivers stayed off the roads because they feared they would be targeted by those striking if they continued working.

Uber, Ola drivers strike in Mumbai and Delhi, demand higher fares

Indian ride-hailing firm Ola, backed by Japan's SoftBank Group will launch 10,000 electric three-wheelers in the country over the next 12 months as part of a broader electrification plan, the company said in a statement on Monday.

The move is part of a broader push by Ola to launch 1 million electric vehicles on its platform by 2021, it said in the statement, adding that it will work with various state governments, vehicle manufacturers and battery companies to meet its target.

The company will develop "Mission: Electric" as a platform to bring one million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road by 2021.

"Three-wheelers are a vital means of transportation and a source of livelihood for millions of people every day. It also represents an immediate opportunity to improve outcomes for all stakeholders while reducing pollution across towns and cities," said Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder, and CEO of Ola.

"Less than a year ago, we launched India's first multi-modal electric pilot in Nagpur. After more than four million electric kilometers traveled and many lessons learned, we are significantly expanding our commitment to electrify mobility in India. Ola leads by example, and we look forward to working with state governments and other partners to introduce accessible, affordable, and sustainable mobility solutions at scale," he added.

It is looking to work with driver-partners, cities, vehicle manufacturers, and battery companies to make sustainable technologies that are cost-effective and viable in daily mobility.

Ola launched its first electric vehicle project in Nagpur on May 26, 2017.

This was inaugurated by Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways & Shipping, in the presence of key dignitaries and thousands of citizens in Nagpur.

The project includes electric cabs, electric auto rickshaws, electric buses, rooftop solar installations, charging stations, and battery swapping experiments.

The electric vehicle program in Nagpur has provided Ola with significant insights into effectively managing vehicles, batteries, and operations.

Ola plans to continue its experimentation with ways to optimise batteries and charging, to develop a strong business model for electric vehicle deployment in the country.

The company is also in discussion with several state governments to create an appropriate policy environment to deploy electric three-wheelers. It is also talking to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners and electric vehicle innovators globally to bring vehicles on the road in a planned and phased manner.

With the addition of 10,000 vehicles across three cities this year, Ola is quickly set to become one of the largest electronic vehicle fleet operators in the world.

(With inputs from ANI)

The move is part of a broader push by Ola to launch 1 million electric vehicles on its platform by 2021

Indian ride-hailing firm Ola, backed by Japan's SoftBank Group will launch 10,000 electric three-wheelers in the country over the next 12 months as part of a broader electrification plan, the company said in a statement on Monday. The move is part of a broader push by Ola to launch 1 million electric vehicles on its platform by 2021, it said in the statement, adding that it will work with various state governments, vehicle manufacturers and battery companies to meet its target. The company will develop "Mission: Electric" as a platform to bring one million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road by 2021. "Three-wheelers are a vital means of transportation and a source of livelihood for millions of people every day. It also represents an immediate opportunity to improve outcomes for all stakeholders while reducing pollution across towns and cities," said Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder, and CEO of Ola. "Less than a year ago, we launched India's first multi-modal electric pilot in Nagpur. After more than four million electric kilometers traveled and many lessons learned, we are significantly expanding our commitment to electrify mobility in India. Ola leads by example, and we look forward to working with state governments and other partners to introduce accessible, affordable, and sustainable mobility solutions at scale," he added. It is looking to work with driver-partners, cities, vehicle manufacturers, and battery companies to make sustainable technologies that are cost-effective and viable in daily mobility. Ola launched its first electric vehicle project in Nagpur on May 26, 2017. This was inaugurated by Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways & Shipping, in the presence of key dignitaries and thousands of citizens in Nagpur. The project includes electric cabs, electric auto rickshaws, electric buses, rooftop solar installations, charging stations, and battery swapping experiments. The electric vehicle program in Nagpur has provided Ola with significant insights into effectively managing vehicles, batteries, and operations. Ola plans to continue its experimentation with ways to optimise batteries and charging, to develop a strong business model for electric vehicle deployment in the country. The company is also in discussion with several state governments to create an appropriate policy environment to deploy electric three-wheelers. It is also talking to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners and electric vehicle innovators globally to bring vehicles on the road in a planned and phased manner. With the addition of 10,000 vehicles across three cities this year, Ola is quickly set to become one of the largest electronic vehicle fleet operators in the world. (With inputs from ANI)

Ola to launch 10,000 electric vehicles over 12 months

I grew up in a city of yellow and black taxis. The drivers were mostly middle-aged and they knew the layout of my city like the palm of their hands. And, then came the Age of Uber and Ola, white glimming taxis with air conditions and GPS installed inside. Vanished from the streets are my well-known, dilapidated, non-airconditioned yellow and black cabs which ubiquitously plied the streets of Kolkata.&nbsp

While there was some romantic pining for the old ones, most of us breathed a sigh of relief at the new development. The new taxis came with so much convenience, the app enabled us to get a cab at the click of a button, there is no tension of not knowing the roads in an unknown city which one may be travelling because of work or vacation. Most importantly, the commuters did not have to take rejection from the drivers. The haggling with drivers over destination and fare seemed to be things of the past.&nbsp

Ola and Uber heralded a new age for daily commuters. But what had been good for commuters, can we say with equanimity that the same is good for people working the cabs for Uber and Ola? Or is the current flashpoint a continuation of a larger debate over labour rights and how these companies are treating these drivers with impunity because they are not employees per se but in contractual agreement.&nbsp

The fact that both Ola and Uber have failed to deliver on their promises of revolutionising daily commute in India has to do a lot with how they treat their drivers whose status vis-a-vis the company is left obscure. Both the Taxi aggregator companies are falling in trouble with governing agencies for violating regulatory rules. They have put up a good fight from city to city, thereby, bringing taxi service to the twentieth century. But as they fought with state regulatory agencies, with more or less success, the mounting tension with their own drivers have become so big that political parties are taking up their cause too.&nbsp

Starting Monday, Ola and Uber cab drivers will go on a strike for an indefinite period. This strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena. The seriousness of the situation will become clear when we know that Vahtuk Sena is led by none other than Raj Thackrey.&nbsp

MNS has urged the Ola and Uber drivers to obey the call for the strike. If they don't, comes the chilling words of the Union President, the MNS will handle the recalcitrant drivers their own way.&nbsp

Without letting political parties hijack the cause of Ola and Uber drivers. It will serve the purpose of a fair and reliable transport service in India if we look into the issues, &nbspraised repeatedly by drivers and transport experts, against the app-based companies.&nbsp

Being app-based, these companies' strategies are anchored in technologies that are dependent on gathering, using and analysing loads of data. Both the companies have been storing data about pick up and drop off points, the routes that are frequently taken, traffic, the frequency of travels by a particular passenger, the performance of the driver, pick hours and down times. All these information is needed to develop a cost-effective and profit-making transportation system. But when a private company is dealing with so much data, there is a tremendous amount of responsibility associated with it. There are serious trust issues involved.&nbsp

But&nbspsome serious concerns have been raised by the drivers of the app-based companies. Allegedly, the companies are coming down harshly on drivers for not following the minute details of the code of conduct. For instance, they are penalised for refusing a passenger, they have to strictly adhere to log in and log off times. They have to be equally receptive to cash or digital payment. But all these would not have mattered much at the end of the day, have the drivers were getting paid as promised by the companies.&nbsp

A very common complaint from the drivers associated with the said companies had been that while they had been promised a profit of 1.5 lakhs of INR, they are now struggling with crushing debts. So much so that, some of them pointed out of not being able to pay EMIs on the loan that they have taken for buying their cars.&nbsp

It has been brought to the notice that the aggregator car companies had been discriminating between drivers. Courtesy the huge amount of data they own and because of the fact they can use the data howsoever they want, they are privileging those drivers that have taken loans from them to buy a car over those who came with their own car. The companies had been charging 26 per cent service charges on drivers getting passengers using their app. While the rate of service taxes remain the same for all drivers but the companies give first preference to taxis owned by the aggregators themselves. That is drivers who have availed of the companies' &nbspfinancing schemes tends to get the passengers before other drivers working with the companies.

The drivers of Ola and Uber have little legal rights to negotiate with the companies as they are not employees per se. For instance, they can do little to negotiate wages or when they are faced with discriminations. This problem has been plaguing the companies in the US too. Where experts have urged The National Labor Relations Board to investigate Uber for possible violations of federal labour laws.&nbsp

In case of India too, it will be imperative that under the current confusion, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), fair-business practice watchdog, should intervene immediately and order an investigation by the DG of Investigations. It is only then that the truth will come out and the drivers of Ola and Uber can get the case heard without politicising the issue to the detriment of their interests.&nbsp

Drivers, coming from the low-income group, do not need indefinite days of a strike which would critically jeopardise their livelihood. Rather, they will need speedy addressal to their concerns so that they can go about doing their job. The commuters too will breathe a sigh of relief and the companies would be able to function hassle-free, without repeated interventions from regulating authorities.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Taxi drivers need speedy addressal to their concerns so that they can go about doing their job, commuters will breathe a sigh of relief and the companies would be able to function hassle-free. Competition Commission of India (CCI), should intervene immediately and order an investigation.

I grew up in a city of yellow and black taxis. The drivers were mostly middle-aged and they knew the layout of my city like the palm of their hands. And, then came the Age of Uber and Ola, white glimming taxis with air conditions and GPS installed inside. Vanished from the streets are my well-known, dilapidated, non-airconditioned yellow and black cabs which ubiquitously plied the streets of Kolkata. While there was some romantic pining for the old ones, most of us breathed a sigh of relief at the new development. The new taxis came with so much convenience, the app enabled us to get a cab at the click of a button, there is no tension of not knowing the roads in an unknown city which one may be travelling because of work or vacation. Most importantly, the commuters did not have to take rejection from the drivers. The haggling with drivers over destination and fare seemed to be things of the past. Ola and Uber heralded a new age for daily commuters. But what had been good for commuters, can we say with equanimity that the same is good for people working the cabs for Uber and Ola? Or is the current flashpoint a continuation of a larger debate over labour rights and how these companies are treating these drivers with impunity because they are not employees per se but in contractual agreement. The fact that both Ola and Uber have failed to deliver on their promises of revolutionising daily commute in India has to do a lot with how they treat their drivers whose status vis-a-vis the company is left obscure. Both the Taxi aggregator companies are falling in trouble with governing agencies for violating regulatory rules. They have put up a good fight from city to city, thereby, bringing taxi service to the twentieth century. But as they fought with state regulatory agencies, with more or less success, the mounting tension with their own drivers have become so big that political parties are taking up their cause too. Starting Monday, Ola and Uber cab drivers will go on a strike for an indefinite period. This strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena. The seriousness of the situation will become clear when we know that Vahtuk Sena is led by none other than Raj Thackrey. MNS has urged the Ola and Uber drivers to obey the call for the strike. If they don't, comes the chilling words of the Union President, the MNS will handle the recalcitrant drivers their own way. Without letting political parties hijack the cause of Ola and Uber drivers. It will serve the purpose of a fair and reliable transport service in India if we look into the issues, &nbspraised repeatedly by drivers and transport experts, against the app-based companies. Being app-based, these companies' strategies are anchored in technologies that are dependent on gathering, using and analysing loads of data. Both the companies have been storing data about pick up and drop off points, the routes that are frequently taken, traffic, the frequency of travels by a particular passenger, the performance of the driver, pick hours and down times. All these information is needed to develop a cost-effective and profit-making transportation system. But when a private company is dealing with so much data, there is a tremendous amount of responsibility associated with it. There are serious trust issues involved. But&nbspsome serious concerns have been raised by the drivers of the app-based companies. Allegedly, the companies are coming down harshly on drivers for not following the minute details of the code of conduct. For instance, they are penalised for refusing a passenger, they have to strictly adhere to log in and log off times. They have to be equally receptive to cash or digital payment. But all these would not have mattered much at the end of the day, have the drivers were getting paid as promised by the companies. A very common complaint from the drivers associated with the said companies had been that while they had been promised a profit of 1.5 lakhs of INR, they are now struggling with crushing debts. So much so that, some of them pointed out of not being able to pay EMIs on the loan that they have taken for buying their cars. It has been brought to the notice that the aggregator car companies had been discriminating between drivers. Courtesy the huge amount of data they own and because of the fact they can use the data howsoever they want, they are privileging those drivers that have taken loans from them to buy a car over those who came with their own car. The companies had been charging 26 per cent service charges on drivers getting passengers using their app. While the rate of service taxes remain the same for all drivers but the companies give first preference to taxis owned by the aggregators themselves. That is drivers who have availed of the companies' &nbspfinancing schemes tends to get the passengers before other drivers working with the companies. The drivers of Ola and Uber have little legal rights to negotiate with the companies as they are not employees per se. For instance, they can do little to negotiate wages or when they are faced with discriminations. This problem has been plaguing the companies in the US too. Where experts have urged The National Labor Relations Board to investigate Uber for possible violations of federal labour laws. In case of India too, it will be imperative that under the current confusion, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), fair-business practice watchdog, should intervene immediately and order an investigation by the DG of Investigations. It is only then that the truth will come out and the drivers of Ola and Uber can get the case heard without politicising the issue to the detriment of their interests. Drivers, coming from the low-income group, do not need indefinite days of a strike which would critically jeopardise their livelihood. Rather, they will need speedy addressal to their concerns so that they can go about doing their job. The commuters too will breathe a sigh of relief and the companies would be able to function hassle-free, without repeated interventions from regulating authorities. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: CCI should intervene immediately to bring relief to taxi drivers, commuters

A day after Ola called off their strike, another can service company Uber drivers also withdrew&nbsp;strike in Mumbai on Wednesday.

The decision on&nbsp;calling off the strike was taken by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) transport union after having talking with Uber officials in Ghatkopar, Mumbai in presence of senior inspector Vyankat Patil.

MNS head said some of the demands that were discussed received a positive response from Uber officials.

The demands include reinstating the blacklisted drivers who did not have a criminal record.

Other demands regarding earnings and incentives will be discussed with all India&#39;s head and will be acknowledged in 15 days.

The cab drivers are on strike in various states of the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune over the restructuring of payment structure.

MNS called off Ola drivers&#39; strike on Wednesday after a meeting with Ola officials but Uber continued their strike by Thursday.

Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena said:&nbsp;&quot;Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh, and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies.&quot;

The union has also demanded driver agreements and cab stickers of Uber to be in Marathi language.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

A day after Ola called off their strike, another can service company Uber drivers also withdraws strike in Mumbai on Wednesday

A day after Ola called off their strike, another can service company Uber drivers also withdrew strike in Mumbai on Wednesday. The decision on calling off the strike was taken by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) transport union after having talking with Uber officials in Ghatkopar, Mumbai in presence of senior inspector Vyankat Patil. MNS head said some of the demands that were discussed received a positive response from Uber officials. The demands include reinstating the blacklisted drivers who did not have a criminal record. Other demands regarding earnings and incentives will be discussed with all India's head and will be acknowledged in 15 days. The cab drivers are on strike in various states of the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune over the restructuring of payment structure. MNS called off Ola drivers' strike on Wednesday after a meeting with Ola officials but Uber continued their strike by Thursday. Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena said: "Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh, and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies." The union has also demanded driver agreements and cab stickers of Uber to be in Marathi language.

After Ola, Uber also calls off strike in Mumbai

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena resorted to violence over its call for indefinite strike of drivers of app-based taxi aggregator <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ola-uber-on-strike-today-demand-better-earnings-36298">Ola and Uber</a> in Mumbai.&nbsp;

An MNS worker took to streets and damaged a windshield of a taxi in Mumbai, threatening the driver to stop running the vehicle during the strike.

The MNS worker was heard yelling at the taxi driver, &ldquo;Gaadi band matlab gaadi band (no vehicle means no vehicle)&rdquo;.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Mumbai taxi drivers strike: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Nitin Nandgaonkar breaks windshield of a taxi which was plying in the city <a href="https://t.co/ZERyZXU68h">pic.twitter.com/ZERyZXU68h</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975626531010760704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Several commuters complained of long waits and surge fares due to a dearth in cabs on the road.

Drivers for app-based cab aggregators Uber and Ola started an indefinite strike across Mumbai, demanding extra pay as a surge in the number of cabs on the two platforms, coupled with cutbacks in incentive payments, have stung drivers.

Drivers in other cities like the capital New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune among others would also take part, party leaders said over the weekend.

&ldquo;Drivers are in huge debt, but the firms are favouring those driving company-owned vehicles,&rdquo; Sanjay Naik, president of the MNS transport wing told a press conference on Saturday.

&quot;Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh (500,000 - 700,000), and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh (150,000) a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies,&quot; said Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena, who is organising the strike.

Ola had cut driver incentives based on the number of trips completed by as much as 20-40% in Delhi as compared to the previous year, according to a report. Even Uber had tweaked its incentives model to reward drivers bases on earnings and not on the number of trips, said the report.

Uber was not immediately reachable for comment, while Ola&rsquo;s spokesman said it was too early in the day to measure the impact of the strike.

An MNS worker took to streets and damaged a windshield of a taxi in Mumbai, threatening the driver to stop running the vehicle during the strike

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena resorted to violence over its call for indefinite strike of drivers of app-based taxi aggregator Ola and Uber in Mumbai. An MNS worker took to streets and damaged a windshield of a taxi in Mumbai, threatening the driver to stop running the vehicle during the strike. The MNS worker was heard yelling at the taxi driver, “Gaadi band matlab gaadi band (no vehicle means no vehicle)”. #WATCH Mumbai taxi drivers strike: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Nitin Nandgaonkar breaks windshield of a taxi which was plying in the city pic.twitter.com/ZERyZXU68h — ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2018 × Several commuters complained of long waits and surge fares due to a dearth in cabs on the road. Drivers for app-based cab aggregators Uber and Ola started an indefinite strike across Mumbai, demanding extra pay as a surge in the number of cabs on the two platforms, coupled with cutbacks in incentive payments, have stung drivers. Drivers in other cities like the capital New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune among others would also take part, party leaders said over the weekend. “Drivers are in huge debt, but the firms are favouring those driving company-owned vehicles,” Sanjay Naik, president of the MNS transport wing told a press conference on Saturday. "Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh (500,000 - 700,000), and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh (150,000) a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies," said Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena, who is organising the strike. Ola had cut driver incentives based on the number of trips completed by as much as 20-40% in Delhi as compared to the previous year, according to a report. Even Uber had tweaked its incentives model to reward drivers bases on earnings and not on the number of trips, said the report. Uber was not immediately reachable for comment, while Ola’s spokesman said it was too early in the day to measure the impact of the strike.

MNS worker resorts to violence amid Ola, Uber strike

The commuters in Mumbai were facing surge prices of auto and taxi due to strike by the a<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ola-uber-drivers-might-go-off-roads-from-tonight-36201" target="_blank">pp-based&nbsp;Ola and Uber cabs.</a>

The&nbsp;strike was started for an indefinite period on&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;midnight and has now spread to cities such as Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad.

The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the&nbsp;transport wing of Raj Thackeray led MNS.

A media report quoted Union President of the wing saying that they would request&nbsp;cabs to not to operate. The president added&nbsp;that they will handle the issue in MNS-style in case the driver does not&nbsp;obey their commands.&nbsp;

The report cited sources claiming that many drivers are expected to stay off the roads due to fear of being attacked.&nbsp;

The cab drivers are demanding better earnings, incentives and monthly income.&nbsp;

They said that the two companies had assured them a profit of Rs 1.5 lakh per month but now the situation has driven them into debts.&nbsp;They added that they are not even able to pay EMIs of their vehicles.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the transport officials have requested the Kaali-Peeli cabs and autorickshaw unions to run more vehicles from Sunday.&nbsp;

This strike is expected to&nbsp;boost the autorickshaw and kaali-Peeli cabs which were disrupted after the popularity of app-based cabs in the city.&nbsp;

The strike is announced for Monday in Mumbai and on Friday for Delhi.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the transport wing of Raj Thackeray led MNS

The commuters in Mumbai were facing surge prices of auto and taxi due to strike by the app-based Ola and Uber cabs. The strike was started for an indefinite period on Sunday midnight and has now spread to cities such as Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad. The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the transport wing of Raj Thackeray led MNS. A media report quoted Union President of the wing saying that they would request cabs to not to operate. The president added that they will handle the issue in MNS-style in case the driver does not obey their commands. The report cited sources claiming that many drivers are expected to stay off the roads due to fear of being attacked. The cab drivers are demanding better earnings, incentives and monthly income. They said that the two companies had assured them a profit of Rs 1.5 lakh per month but now the situation has driven them into debts. They added that they are not even able to pay EMIs of their vehicles. Meanwhile, the transport officials have requested the Kaali-Peeli cabs and autorickshaw unions to run more vehicles from Sunday. This strike is expected to boost the autorickshaw and kaali-Peeli cabs which were disrupted after the popularity of app-based cabs in the city. The strike is announced for Monday in Mumbai and on Friday for Delhi.

Mumbai: Ola, Uber on strike today, several stranded

&nbsp;Maharashtra Navnirman leader Sanjay Naik has demanded that<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ola-uber-on-strike-today-demand-better-earnings-36298" target="_blank"> Ola and Uber companies</a> should agree to the laws which are followed by the yellow-black taxis in Maharashtra.&nbsp;

He said that the two companies were doing business unlawfully.&nbsp;

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We demand that Ola and Uber taxis agree to the laws by which the yellow-black taxis are run. They are doing business unlawfully: Sanjay Naik, MNS on strike of Ola and Uber taxi drivers called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a> <a href="https://t.co/RghCnobT6g">pic.twitter.com/RghCnobT6g</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975598822964506624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ola-uber-drivers-might-go-off-roads-from-tonight-36201" target="_blank">App-based&nbsp;cabs Ola and Uber </a>are on strike in Mumbai for an indefinite period.

The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the&nbsp;transport wing of Raj Thackeray led MNS.

The cab drivers are demanding better earnings, incentives and monthly income.&nbsp;

They said that the two companies had assured them a profit of Rs 1.5 lakh per month but now the situation has driven them into debts.&nbsp;They added that they are not even able to pay EMIs of their vehicles.&nbsp;

The strike is announced for Monday in Mumbai and on Friday for Delhi.&nbsp;

App-based cabs Ola and Uber are on strike in Mumbai for an indefinite period.The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the transport wing of Raj Thackeray led MNS

Maharashtra Navnirman leader Sanjay Naik has demanded that Ola and Uber companies should agree to the laws which are followed by the yellow-black taxis in Maharashtra. He said that the two companies were doing business unlawfully. We demand that Ola and Uber taxis agree to the laws by which the yellow-black taxis are run. They are doing business unlawfully: Sanjay Naik, MNS on strike of Ola and Uber taxi drivers called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena in #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/RghCnobT6g — ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2018 × App-based cabs Ola and Uber are on strike in Mumbai for an indefinite period. The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the transport wing of Raj Thackeray led MNS. The cab drivers are demanding better earnings, incentives and monthly income. They said that the two companies had assured them a profit of Rs 1.5 lakh per month but now the situation has driven them into debts. They added that they are not even able to pay EMIs of their vehicles. The strike is announced for Monday in Mumbai and on Friday for Delhi.

Ola, Uber doing unlawful business, should agree to laws followed by kaali-peeli taxis: MNS

Planning a foreign trip would require a lot of thought and groundwork but not for this guy who booked an Ola from Bangalore to North Korea.&nbsp;

And if that was not bizarre enough, Ola actually billed him Rs 1.40 lakhs for the journey!&nbsp;

Rohit Menda, who took to Twitter and share the screenshots of the whole booking seemed equally shocked at this odd incident.&nbsp;

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How is this possible <a href="https://twitter.com/Olacabs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olacabs</a> a trip to North Korea? 
Please check your systems.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ola?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ola</a> <a href="https://t.co/wi92DObwGp">pic.twitter.com/wi92DObwGp</a>
&mdash; Rohit Menda (@dynamitedroid) <a href="https://twitter.com/dynamitedroid/status/975081056003964928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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But Ola cabs was quick to respond saying that the booking was a technical glitch from their end and suggested him to restart his phone.&nbsp;

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This seems to be a technical glitch. Please restart the phone and try again.
&mdash; Ola Support (@ola_supports) <a href="https://twitter.com/ola_supports/status/975083733941448704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Ola cabs was quick to respond saying that the booking was a technical glitch from their end and suggested him to restart his phone

Planning a foreign trip would require a lot of thought and groundwork but not for this guy who booked an Ola from Bangalore to North Korea. And if that was not bizarre enough, Ola actually billed him Rs 1.40 lakhs for the journey! Rohit Menda, who took to Twitter and share the screenshots of the whole booking seemed equally shocked at this odd incident. How is this possible @Olacabs a trip to North Korea? Please check your systems.#Ola pic.twitter.com/wi92DObwGp — Rohit Menda (@dynamitedroid) March 17, 2018 × But Ola cabs was quick to respond saying that the booking was a technical glitch from their end and suggested him to restart his phone. This seems to be a technical glitch. Please restart the phone and try again. — Ola Support (@ola_supports) March 17, 2018 ×

Man books Ola cab from Bangalore to North Korea for Rs 1.40 lakh

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and leading cab-service provider Ola Cabs have joined hands for a pilot project.

Together, the IRCTC and Ola Cabs have launched a six-month pilot project which will enable commuters to book an Ola cab on IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app and website.

All existing Ola cab facilities, such as Ola Micro, Ola Mini, Ola Auto and Ola Share, will be available for customers at the same price on the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile application and website.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Aw-hO7mlf5M" width="560"></iframe>

Customers can also pre-book cabs up to seven days in advance or upon reaching the railway station.

In addition to this, various IRCTC outlets at railway stations or Ola self-serving kiosk will also enable commuters to book cabs, noted the official IRCTC release.

Customers can also pre-book cabs up to seven days in advance or upon reaching the railway station

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and leading cab-service provider Ola Cabs have joined hands for a pilot project. Together, the IRCTC and Ola Cabs have launched a six-month pilot project which will enable commuters to book an Ola cab on IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app and website. All existing Ola cab facilities, such as Ola Micro, Ola Mini, Ola Auto and Ola Share, will be available for customers at the same price on the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile application and website. Customers can also pre-book cabs up to seven days in advance or upon reaching the railway station. In addition to this, various IRCTC outlets at railway stations or Ola self-serving kiosk will also enable commuters to book cabs, noted the official IRCTC release.

Now, book an Ola from IRCTC mobile app and website

I grew up in a city of yellow and black taxis. The drivers were mostly middle-aged and they knew the layout of my city like the palm of their hands. And, then came the Age of Uber and Ola, white glimming taxis with air conditions and GPS installed inside. Vanished from the streets are my well-known, dilapidated, non-airconditioned yellow and black cabs which ubiquitously plied the streets of Kolkata.&nbsp;

While there was some romantic pining for the old ones, most of us breathed a sigh of relief at the new development. The new taxis came with so much convenience, the app enabled us to get a cab at the click of a button, there is no tension of not knowing the roads in an unknown city which one may be travelling because of work or vacation. Most importantly, the commuters did not have to take rejection from the drivers. The haggling with drivers over destination and fare seemed to be things of the past.&nbsp;

Ola and Uber heralded a new age for daily commuters. But what had been good for commuters, can we say with equanimity that the same is good for people working the cabs for Uber and Ola? Or is the current flashpoint a continuation of a larger debate over labour rights and how these companies are treating these drivers with impunity because they are not employees per se but in contractual agreement.&nbsp;

The fact that both Ola and Uber have failed to deliver on their promises of revolutionising daily commute in India has to do a lot with how they treat their drivers whose status vis-a-vis the company is left obscure. Both the Taxi aggregator companies are falling in trouble with governing agencies for violating regulatory rules. They have put up a good fight from city to city, thereby, bringing taxi service to the twentieth century. But as they fought with state regulatory agencies, with more or less success, the mounting tension with their own drivers have become so big that political parties are taking up their cause too.&nbsp;

Starting Monday, Ola and Uber cab drivers will go on a strike for an indefinite period. This strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena. The seriousness of the situation will become clear when we know that Vahtuk Sena is led by none other than Raj Thackrey.&nbsp;

MNS has urged the Ola and Uber drivers to obey the call for the strike. If they don&#39;t, comes the chilling words of the Union President, the MNS will handle the recalcitrant drivers their own way.&nbsp;

Without letting political parties hijack the cause of Ola and Uber drivers. It will serve the purpose of a fair and reliable transport service in India if we look into the issues, &nbsp;raised repeatedly by drivers and transport experts, against the app-based companies.&nbsp;

Being app-based, these companies&#39; strategies are anchored in technologies that are dependent on gathering, using and analysing loads of data. Both the companies have been storing data about pick up and drop off points, the routes that are frequently taken, traffic, the frequency of travels by a particular passenger, the performance of the driver, pick hours and down times. All these information is needed to develop a cost-effective and profit-making transportation system. But when a private company is dealing with so much data, there is a tremendous amount of responsibility associated with it. There are serious trust issues involved.&nbsp;

But&nbsp;some serious concerns have been raised by the drivers of the app-based companies. Allegedly, the companies are coming down harshly on drivers for not following the minute details of the code of conduct. For instance, they are penalised for refusing a passenger, they have to strictly adhere to log in and log off times. They have to be equally receptive to cash or digital payment. But all these would not have mattered much at the end of the day, have the drivers were getting paid as promised by the companies.&nbsp;

A very common complaint from the drivers associated with the said companies had been that while they had been promised a profit of 1.5 lakhs of INR, they are now struggling with crushing debts. So much so that, some of them pointed out of not being able to pay EMIs on the loan that they have taken for buying their cars.&nbsp;

It has been brought to the notice that the aggregator car companies had been discriminating between drivers. Courtesy the huge amount of data they own and because of the fact they can use the data howsoever they want, they are privileging those drivers that have taken loans from them to buy a car over those who came with their own car. The companies had been charging 26 per cent service charges on drivers getting passengers using their app. While the rate of service taxes remain the same for all drivers but the companies give first preference to taxis owned by the aggregators themselves. That is drivers who have availed of the companies&#39; &nbsp;financing schemes tends to get the passengers before other drivers working with the companies.

The drivers of Ola and Uber have little legal rights to negotiate with the companies as they are not employees per se. For instance, they can do little to negotiate wages or when they are faced with discriminations. This problem has been plaguing the companies in the US too. Where experts have urged The National Labor Relations Board to investigate Uber for possible violations of federal labour laws.&nbsp;

In case of India too, it will be imperative that under the current confusion, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), fair-business practice watchdog, should intervene immediately and order an investigation by the DG of Investigations. It is only then that the truth will come out and the drivers of Ola and Uber can get the case heard without politicising the issue to the detriment of their interests.&nbsp;

Drivers, coming from the low-income group, do not need indefinite days of a strike which would critically jeopardise their livelihood. Rather, they will need speedy addressal to their concerns so that they can go about doing their job. The commuters too will breathe a sigh of relief and the companies would be able to function hassle-free, without repeated interventions from regulating authorities.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

I grew up in a city of yellow and black taxis. The drivers were mostly middle-aged and they knew the layout of my city like the palm of their hands. And, then came the Age of Uber and Ola, white glimming taxis with air conditions and GPS installed inside. Vanished from the streets are my well-known, dilapidated, non-airconditioned yellow and black cabs which ubiquitously plied the streets of Kolkata. While there was some romantic pining for the old ones, most of us breathed a sigh of relief at the new development. The new taxis came with so much convenience, the app enabled us to get a cab at the click of a button, there is no tension of not knowing the roads in an unknown city which one may be travelling because of work or vacation. Most importantly, the commuters did not have to take rejection from the drivers. The haggling with drivers over destination and fare seemed to be things of the past. Ola and Uber heralded a new age for daily commuters. But what had been good for commuters, can we say with equanimity that the same is good for people working the cabs for Uber and Ola? Or is the current flashpoint a continuation of a larger debate over labour rights and how these companies are treating these drivers with impunity because they are not employees per se but in contractual agreement. The fact that both Ola and Uber have failed to deliver on their promises of revolutionising daily commute in India has to do a lot with how they treat their drivers whose status vis-a-vis the company is left obscure. Both the Taxi aggregator companies are falling in trouble with governing agencies for violating regulatory rules. They have put up a good fight from city to city, thereby, bringing taxi service to the twentieth century. But as they fought with state regulatory agencies, with more or less success, the mounting tension with their own drivers have become so big that political parties are taking up their cause too. Starting Monday, Ola and Uber cab drivers will go on a strike for an indefinite period. This strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena. The seriousness of the situation will become clear when we know that Vahtuk Sena is led by none other than Raj Thackrey. MNS has urged the Ola and Uber drivers to obey the call for the strike. If they don't, comes the chilling words of the Union President, the MNS will handle the recalcitrant drivers their own way. Without letting political parties hijack the cause of Ola and Uber drivers. It will serve the purpose of a fair and reliable transport service in India if we look into the issues, raised repeatedly by drivers and transport experts, against the app-based companies. Being app-based, these companies' strategies are anchored in technologies that are dependent on gathering, using and analysing loads of data. Both the companies have been storing data about pick up and drop off points, the routes that are frequently taken, traffic, the frequency of travels by a particular passenger, the performance of the driver, pick hours and down times. All these information is needed to develop a cost-effective and profit-making transportation system. But when a private company is dealing with so much data, there is a tremendous amount of responsibility associated with it. There are serious trust issues involved. But some serious concerns have been raised by the drivers of the app-based companies. Allegedly, the companies are coming down harshly on drivers for not following the minute details of the code of conduct. For instance, they are penalised for refusing a passenger, they have to strictly adhere to log in and log off times. They have to be equally receptive to cash or digital payment. But all these would not have mattered much at the end of the day, have the drivers were getting paid as promised by the companies. A very common complaint from the drivers associated with the said companies had been that while they had been promised a profit of 1.5 lakhs of INR, they are now struggling with crushing debts. So much so that, some of them pointed out of not being able to pay EMIs on the loan that they have taken for buying their cars. It has been brought to the notice that the aggregator car companies had been discriminating between drivers. Courtesy the huge amount of data they own and because of the fact they can use the data howsoever they want, they are privileging those drivers that have taken loans from them to buy a car over those who came with their own car. The companies had been charging 26 per cent service charges on drivers getting passengers using their app. While the rate of service taxes remain the same for all drivers but the companies give first preference to taxis owned by the aggregators themselves. That is drivers who have availed of the companies' financing schemes tends to get the passengers before other drivers working with the companies. The drivers of Ola and Uber have little legal rights to negotiate with the companies as they are not employees per se. For instance, they can do little to negotiate wages or when they are faced with discriminations. This problem has been plaguing the companies in the US too. Where experts have urged The National Labor Relations Board to investigate Uber for possible violations of federal labour laws. In case of India too, it will be imperative that under the current confusion, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), fair-business practice watchdog, should intervene immediately and order an investigation by the DG of Investigations. It is only then that the truth will come out and the drivers of Ola and Uber can get the case heard without politicising the issue to the detriment of their interests. Drivers, coming from the low-income group, do not need indefinite days of a strike which would critically jeopardise their livelihood. Rather, they will need speedy addressal to their concerns so that they can go about doing their job. The commuters too will breathe a sigh of relief and the companies would be able to function hassle-free, without repeated interventions from regulating authorities. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-wins-another-term-but-what-happens-in-2024-36289" target="_blank">Russia&#39;s Putin wins yet another term but what happens in 2024?</a>

In power for almost two decades, Vladimir Putin predictably won a fourth Kremlin term in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/putin-wins-fourth-term-with-739-of-vote-36284" target="_blank">Russia&#39;s presidential election</a>&nbsp;on Sunday, extending his long rule for another six years.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ysr-congress-tdp-to-pitch-for-no-trust-vote-against-government-today-36300" target="_blank">YSR Congress, TDP to pitch for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ysr-congress-tdp-to-pitch-for-no-trust-vote-against-government-today-36300" target="_blank">no-trust</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ysr-congress-tdp-to-pitch-for-no-trust-vote-against-government-today-36300" target="_blank"> vote against </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ysr-congress-tdp-to-pitch-for-no-trust-vote-against-government-today-36300" target="_blank">government</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ysr-congress-tdp-to-pitch-for-no-trust-vote-against-government-today-36300" target="_blank"> today</a>

The YSR Congress and the Telugu Desam Party will pitch for taking up their notices of no-confidence motion against the Modi government when the Lok Sabha meets today amid no signs of a let-up in the deadlock in its proceedings.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-has-given-his-word-on-denuclearisation-south-korea-36295" target="_blank">Kim Jong-un &#39;has given his word&#39; on denuclearisation: South Korea</a>

North Korea&#39;s Kim Jong-un has &quot;given his word&quot; that he is committed to denuclearisation, South Korea&#39;s foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha was quoted as saying on Sunday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ola-uber-on-strike-today-demand-better-earnings-36298" target="_blank">Ola, Uber on strike today, demand better earnings</a>

App-based&nbsp;cabs Ola and Uber will begin with a strike&nbsp;in Mumbai on Monday for an indefinite period. The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the&nbsp;transport wing of Raj Thackeray led MNS.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/president-donald-trump-sharpens-attacks-on-russia-probe-36285" target="_blank">US President Donald Trump sharpens attacks on Russia probe</a>

President Donald Trump Sunday intensified his attacks on Robert Mueller&#39;s Russia investigation as biased against him, but stopped just short of targeting the special counsel &mdash; whose ouster lawmakers warned would cross a &quot;massive red line.&quot;

&nbsp;

Russia's Putin wins yet another term but what happens in 2024? In power for almost two decades, Vladimir Putin predictably won a fourth Kremlin term in Russia's presidential election on Sunday, extending his long rule for another six years. YSR Congress, TDP to pitch for no-trust vote against government today The YSR Congress and the Telugu Desam Party will pitch for taking up their notices of no-confidence motion against the Modi government when the Lok Sabha meets today amid no signs of a let-up in the deadlock in its proceedings. Kim Jong-un 'has given his word' on denuclearisation: South Korea North Korea's Kim Jong-un has "given his word" that he is committed to denuclearisation, South Korea's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha was quoted as saying on Sunday. Ola, Uber on strike today, demand better earnings App-based cabs Ola and Uber will begin with a strike in Mumbai on Monday for an indefinite period. The strike has been called by Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtuk Sena, the transport wing of Raj Thackeray led MNS. US President Donald Trump sharpens attacks on Russia probe President Donald Trump Sunday intensified his attacks on Robert Mueller's Russia investigation as biased against him, but stopped just short of targeting the special counsel — whose ouster lawmakers warned would cross a "massive red line."

WION Morning News Brief, March 19, 2018

Drivers of cab aggregators Uber and Ola have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from the midnight of March 18.

The strike is expected to be observed in key cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune among other cities.

&quot;Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh (500,000 - 700,000), and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh (150,000) a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies,&quot; said Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena, who is organising the strike.

Ola had cut driver incentives based on the number of trips completed by as much as 20-40% in Delhi as compared to the previous year, according to a report. Even Uber had tweaked its incentives model to reward drivers bases on earnings and not on the number of trips, said the report.

Drivers who were earlier attracted to these app-based cabs for their high pay are now the ones protesting.

While taxi-hailing companies offered loan-guarantee letters to drivers through the Mudra scheme and that too without any verification, they are defaulting on repayment now as their costs are not covered.

In Mumbai alone, there are over 45,000 cabs on these aggregators but due to the slump in business, there has been a fall of 20 per cent in the number of cabs running on these platforms in the city.

The strike is expected to be observed in key cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune among other cities

Drivers of cab aggregators Uber and Ola have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from the midnight of March 18. The strike is expected to be observed in key cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune among other cities. "Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh (500,000 - 700,000), and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh (150,000) a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies," said Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena, who is organising the strike. Ola had cut driver incentives based on the number of trips completed by as much as 20-40% in Delhi as compared to the previous year, according to a report. Even Uber had tweaked its incentives model to reward drivers bases on earnings and not on the number of trips, said the report. Drivers who were earlier attracted to these app-based cabs for their high pay are now the ones protesting. While taxi-hailing companies offered loan-guarantee letters to drivers through the Mudra scheme and that too without any verification, they are defaulting on repayment now as their costs are not covered. In Mumbai alone, there are over 45,000 cabs on these aggregators but due to the slump in business, there has been a fall of 20 per cent in the number of cabs running on these platforms in the city.

Ola, Uber drivers might go off roads from tonight

Foodpanda India, the popular food take away service has been bought over by ride-sharing app Ola.

Germany&#39;s Delivery Hero announced it was selling Foodpanda India to Ola with the taxi-hailing service ready to invest $200 million into the company.&nbsp;

&quot;The partnership with Ola will allow us to further consolidate markets where it strategically makes sense to collaborate with leading local players,&quot; Delivery Hero&#39;s Chief Executive Niklas Ostberg said.

Last month, India&#39;s food online marketplace had registered a 64 jump in the financial year 2016-17.

The company had earned Rs 62.16 crores in the financial year 2016-17 compared to Rs 37.81 crores in the previous financial year.&nbsp;

Ride-sharing app Ola has taken over foodpanda's India operations

Foodpanda India, the popular food take away service has been bought over by ride-sharing app Ola. Germany's Delivery Hero announced it was selling Foodpanda India to Ola with the taxi-hailing service ready to invest $200 million into the company. "The partnership with Ola will allow us to further consolidate markets where it strategically makes sense to collaborate with leading local players," Delivery Hero's Chief Executive Niklas Ostberg said. Last month, India's food online marketplace had registered a 64 jump in the financial year 2016-17. The company had earned Rs 62.16 crores in the financial year 2016-17 compared to Rs 37.81 crores in the previous financial year.

Ola buys Foodpanda India

An<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ola-driver-molests-bengaluru-woman-activates-child-lock-to-prevent-her-from-escaping-26011"> Ola driver was suspended</a> on Tuesday after he was allegedly accused of molesting a 23-year-old woman in Bengaluru on Sunday night, reports said.&nbsp;

An Ola representative has also told the customer to file a formal complaint against the driver to the police.&nbsp;

&quot;We regret the unfortunate experience the customer had during their ride. We have zero tolerance for such incidents and the driver has been suspended from the platform as an immediate action upon receiving the complaint,&quot; the Ola spokesperson said.

&quot;We have also urged the customer to lodge a formal complaint with the authorities. The safety of customers is our priority and we will continue to extend our full support to this investigation against the said driver,&quot; the spokesperson added.

The woman, who was a fashion designer by profession, complained to Ola Cabs safety team where she said that the driver misbehaved with her, held her hostage and child locked the doors.&nbsp;

The driver further threatened the woman and said that she would face consequences if she reports a complaint to the authorities, media reports said.

The woman did not lodge an official complaint. According to reports, she was not a resident of Bengaluru and did not file the complaint to avoid legal issues.&nbsp;

The victim has confirmed that the incident took place at around 10:30 pm.

The driver further threatened the women and said that she would face consequences if she reports a complaint to the authorities, media reports said

An Ola driver was suspended on Tuesday after he was allegedly accused of molesting a 23-year-old woman in Bengaluru on Sunday night, reports said. An Ola representative has also told the customer to file a formal complaint against the driver to the police. "We regret the unfortunate experience the customer had during their ride. We have zero tolerance for such incidents and the driver has been suspended from the platform as an immediate action upon receiving the complaint," the Ola spokesperson said. "We have also urged the customer to lodge a formal complaint with the authorities. The safety of customers is our priority and we will continue to extend our full support to this investigation against the said driver," the spokesperson added. The woman, who was a fashion designer by profession, complained to Ola Cabs safety team where she said that the driver misbehaved with her, held her hostage and child locked the doors. The driver further threatened the woman and said that she would face consequences if she reports a complaint to the authorities, media reports said. The woman did not lodge an official complaint. According to reports, she was not a resident of Bengaluru and did not file the complaint to avoid legal issues. The victim has confirmed that the incident took place at around 10:30 pm.

Ola suspends driver for molesting woman passenger

Indian ride-hailing firm Ola said it has tied up with Microsoft to build a connected-car platform and will use the U.S tech giant&#39;s Azure cloud-computing service to power its in-car entertainment offering.

Microsoft is separately also in talks over a potential investment in Ola, a source told Reuters, declining to be named as the discussions are private.

The new connected-vehicle platform, for cars that have internet access, will have features to aid navigation and to flag when vehicle maintenance is required, Ola said in a statement on Tuesday.

&quot;Both companies will collaborate to take this platform to car manufacturers globally to integrate with vehicle systems,&quot; Ola said, making the announcement during a visit to India by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Ola, which has been locked in a fierce battle with rival Uber for a bigger piece of India&#39;s $12 billion taxi market, has said it would invest in artificial intelligence and machine-learning capabilities, which include technologies like its in-car entertainment platform called Play that allows riders to choose music and stream videos.

As part of its partnership with Microsoft, Ola plans to weave the U.S. company&#39;s digital assistant Cortana into its Play service for voice recognition capabilities, the source said.

Ola raised $1.1 billion last month from investors led by China&#39;s Tencent Holdings and Japan&#39;s SoftBank Group and said it was in &quot;advanced talks with other investors&quot; for a further $1 billion.

Any investment by Microsoft could be part of this second tranche, the source said, adding that Ola will switch completely from the Amazon Web Services cloud platform to Microsoft Azure over the next few quarters.

Indian newspaper Mint reported in July that Microsoft was looking to invest up to $100 million in Ola parent ANI Technologies. (https://goo.gl/akiUL2)

A spokesman for Ola said there were no fundraising talks in progress with Microsoft at this time.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Microsoft is separately also in talks over a potential investment in Ola, a source told Reuters, declining to be named as the discussions are private.

Indian ride-hailing firm Ola said it has tied up with Microsoft to build a connected-car platform and will use the U.S tech giant's Azure cloud-computing service to power its in-car entertainment offering. Microsoft is separately also in talks over a potential investment in Ola, a source told Reuters, declining to be named as the discussions are private. The new connected-vehicle platform, for cars that have internet access, will have features to aid navigation and to flag when vehicle maintenance is required, Ola said in a statement on Tuesday. "Both companies will collaborate to take this platform to car manufacturers globally to integrate with vehicle systems," Ola said, making the announcement during a visit to India by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Ola, which has been locked in a fierce battle with rival Uber for a bigger piece of India's $12 billion taxi market, has said it would invest in artificial intelligence and machine-learning capabilities, which include technologies like its in-car entertainment platform called Play that allows riders to choose music and stream videos. As part of its partnership with Microsoft, Ola plans to weave the U.S. company's digital assistant Cortana into its Play service for voice recognition capabilities, the source said. Ola raised $1.1 billion last month from investors led by China's Tencent Holdings and Japan's SoftBank Group and said it was in "advanced talks with other investors" for a further $1 billion. Any investment by Microsoft could be part of this second tranche, the source said, adding that Ola will switch completely from the Amazon Web Services cloud platform to Microsoft Azure over the next few quarters. Indian newspaper Mint reported in July that Microsoft was looking to invest up to $100 million in Ola parent ANI Technologies. (https://goo.gl/akiUL2) A spokesman for Ola said there were no fundraising talks in progress with Microsoft at this time. Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ola ties up with Microsoft for connected car platform

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre how app-based transport services like Uber, Ola, and redBus can be regulated.&nbsp;

The court was responding to a petition seeking compensation for rape victims. (While the petitioner had asked for compensation, it was the court which asked why more guarantees of women&#39;s safety could not be put in place.)&nbsp;

The petitioner had asked that all public transport vehicles be fitted with GPS systems, high-security registration plates, and that they maintain logbooks.&nbsp;

The petitioner had also asked that the government encourage the hiring of more women drivers.&nbsp;

The court will now hear the petition on December 7.&nbsp;

Taxi aggregators in India (and elsewhere) have for some time now said that the only technology they provide is to help drivers and passengers connect with each other.&nbsp;

And that while they might terminate or suspend the services of a driver who has done something illegal -- they themselves cannot be held liable.&nbsp;

That is why their drivers are often referred to as &quot;driver partners&quot;.&nbsp;

This is a very wide grey zone -- and one that the petition might help find answers to.&nbsp;

If, say, a person is assaulted in a taxi, who is to be held accountable? Just the driver or also the company that provided his services?&nbsp;

The courts have asked a similar question earlier.&nbsp;

The Delhi High Court had last year in February asked the government and police to check if all cab drivers in the city had valid licences.&nbsp;

This was after a foreign tourist had been molested by a taxi driver.&nbsp;

&quot;If someone comes to Delhi from another country and hires a taxi and if a driver commits a crime, who will be held responsible?&quot; the court had asked then.&nbsp;

The court was responding to a petition seeking compensation for rape victims

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre how app-based transport services like Uber, Ola, and redBus can be regulated. The court was responding to a petition seeking compensation for rape victims. (While the petitioner had asked for compensation, it was the court which asked why more guarantees of women's safety could not be put in place.) The petitioner had asked that all public transport vehicles be fitted with GPS systems, high-security registration plates, and that they maintain logbooks. The petitioner had also asked that the government encourage the hiring of more women drivers. The court will now hear the petition on December 7. Taxi aggregators in India (and elsewhere) have for some time now said that the only technology they provide is to help drivers and passengers connect with each other. And that while they might terminate or suspend the services of a driver who has done something illegal -- they themselves cannot be held liable. That is why their drivers are often referred to as "driver partners". This is a very wide grey zone -- and one that the petition might help find answers to. If, say, a person is assaulted in a taxi, who is to be held accountable? Just the driver or also the company that provided his services? The courts have asked a similar question earlier. The Delhi High Court had last year in February asked the government and police to check if all cab drivers in the city had valid licences. This was after a foreign tourist had been molested by a taxi driver. "If someone comes to Delhi from another country and hires a taxi and if a driver commits a crime, who will be held responsible?" the court had asked then.

SC to Centre: How can app-based transport services be regulated??

Ola is getting USD 2 billion funding from a group of investors that includes SoftBank Group and Tencent Holdings, said industry sources.

The funding, part of which has already come in, will help Ola bolster its position against US-based rival Uber. The two are engaged in an intense battle for leadership in the Indian market and have pumped in millions of dollars in driver incentives and discounted rides for customers.

Multiple sources, who did not wish to be identified as the discussions are private, said the round is yet to be closed and the numbers could add up to about USD 2 billion when it happens. An announcement could be made in the next few weeks, they added.

Ola and SoftBank declined to comment on the matter while Tencent was not immediately available.

ANI Technologies -- which runs Ola -- has already raised multiple rounds of funding this year. According to documents filed with regulatory authorities, it raised over Rs 231 crore from Tekne Private Ventures through the issue of preference shares in June.

In March, the SoftBank-backed Ola had raised Rs 670 crore (USD 104.4 million) in funding from investors including UC-RNT Fund, a venture between the University of California and leading industrialist Ratan Tata.

ANI Technologies, which is not a publicly-traded company, counts among its investor&#39;s names like SoftBank Group, Tiger Global, Sequoia India and Accel Partners US. 
Its revenues registered a stellar growth at Rs 758.23 crore during 2015-16 compared to Rs 103.77 crore in the previous fiscal.However, it posted a consolidated loss of over Rs 2,311 crore -- about Rs 6 crore a day -- during that fiscal on account of heavy advertising and promotional expenses and other costs.

Earlier this year, SoftBank and Tencent invested in India&#39;s largest e-commerce firm, Flipkart. The USD 2.5-billion funding in Flipkart by SoftBank was made through SoftBank Vision Fund, the world&#39;s largest technology-focused fund.

It could not be ascertained if the investment in Ola would be made by SoftBank group or via SoftBank Vision Fund.

The funding has come from a group of investors that includes SoftBank Group and Tencent Holdings

Ola is getting USD 2 billion funding from a group of investors that includes SoftBank Group and Tencent Holdings, said industry sources. The funding, part of which has already come in, will help Ola bolster its position against US-based rival Uber. The two are engaged in an intense battle for leadership in the Indian market and have pumped in millions of dollars in driver incentives and discounted rides for customers. Multiple sources, who did not wish to be identified as the discussions are private, said the round is yet to be closed and the numbers could add up to about USD 2 billion when it happens. An announcement could be made in the next few weeks, they added. Ola and SoftBank declined to comment on the matter while Tencent was not immediately available. ANI Technologies -- which runs Ola -- has already raised multiple rounds of funding this year. According to documents filed with regulatory authorities, it raised over Rs 231 crore from Tekne Private Ventures through the issue of preference shares in June. In March, the SoftBank-backed Ola had raised Rs 670 crore (USD 104.4 million) in funding from investors including UC-RNT Fund, a venture between the University of California and leading industrialist Ratan Tata. ANI Technologies, which is not a publicly-traded company, counts among its investor's names like SoftBank Group, Tiger Global, Sequoia India and Accel Partners US. Its revenues registered a stellar growth at Rs 758.23 crore during 2015-16 compared to Rs 103.77 crore in the previous fiscal.However, it posted a consolidated loss of over Rs 2,311 crore -- about Rs 6 crore a day -- during that fiscal on account of heavy advertising and promotional expenses and other costs. Earlier this year, SoftBank and Tencent invested in India's largest e-commerce firm, Flipkart. The USD 2.5-billion funding in Flipkart by SoftBank was made through SoftBank Vision Fund, the world's largest technology-focused fund. It could not be ascertained if the investment in Ola would be made by SoftBank group or via SoftBank Vision Fund.

Ola gets $2 billion funding, should help bolster it against Uber

Amid <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/light-moderate-rainfall-expected-in-mumbai-today-indian-metrological-department-19653">heavy downpour in Mumbai&nbsp;which has disrupted life</a> in India&#39;s financial capital, Ola and Uber have announced free rides and other concessions to the riders.&nbsp;

Uber has introduced <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rain-brings-mumbai-to-grinding-halt-trains-roads-flights-hitrains-wreak-havoc-in-mumbai-rail-road-air-services-disrupted-19638">free UberPool rides for the people of Mumbai</a>. Mumbai riders can avail the free pool rides by typing in the promo code &quot;MUMBAIRAINS&quot; in the Promo Section option. Promo Section option can be accessed by opening the Uber app and selecting the Payments option.&nbsp;

Ola, on the other hand, has introduced free shuttle services for every Mumbai citizen. The riders do not even need to book cabs for availing the Ola service.

The company will connect people to Powai Hiranandani - Bhayander via Western Express Highway, Bandra Kurla Complex - Bhayandar via Western Express Highway, Domestic Airport - Thane side via JVLR &amp; then Eastern Express, Lower Parel, Currey Road - Thane via Lalbaugh Parel Central Route, Goregaon Hub Mall: Vasai via Western Express Highway.

Also, both the service providers have suspended surge prices.&nbsp;

The highest <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/heavy-rains-lash-mumbai-several-areas-waterlogged-19617">recorded rainfall since 2005 has </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/heavy-rains-lash-mumbai-several-areas-waterlogged-19617">paralysed</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/heavy-rains-lash-mumbai-several-areas-waterlogged-19617"> the transportation</a> system in and around the city.&nbsp;

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Incessant downpour lashed Mumbai city police on Tuesday with citizens abandoning their cars as water submerged several vehicles. (WION)
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Amid the heavy downpour in Mumbai, which has disrupted the life of the financial capital, Ola and Uber have announced free rides and other concessions to the riders

Amid heavy downpour in Mumbai which has disrupted life in India's financial capital, Ola and Uber have announced free rides and other concessions to the riders. Uber has introduced free UberPool rides for the people of Mumbai. Mumbai riders can avail the free pool rides by typing in the promo code "MUMBAIRAINS" in the Promo Section option. Promo Section option can be accessed by opening the Uber app and selecting the Payments option. Ola, on the other hand, has introduced free shuttle services for every Mumbai citizen. The riders do not even need to book cabs for availing the Ola service. The company will connect people to Powai Hiranandani - Bhayander via Western Express Highway, Bandra Kurla Complex - Bhayandar via Western Express Highway, Domestic Airport - Thane side via JVLR & then Eastern Express, Lower Parel, Currey Road - Thane via Lalbaugh Parel Central Route, Goregaon Hub Mall: Vasai via Western Express Highway. Also, both the service providers have suspended surge prices. The highest recorded rainfall since 2005 has paralysed the transportation system in and around the city. Incessant downpour lashed Mumbai city police on Tuesday with citizens abandoning their cars as water submerged several vehicles. (WION) ×

Ola, Uber offer free services to Mumbaikars, type promo code 'MUMBAIRAINS' on your phone

The commuters in the Delhi-NCR region are in for a major problem today as the drivers of two app-based cab services Ola and Uber have threatened to go off roads for a day as a mark of protest against &quot;low fares&quot;. &nbsp;

Prior to this, they had gone on strike in February too, which lasted 13 days affecting transportation in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad.

The companies had resorted to surge pricing during morning and evening peak hours then.

The drivers` association demands that fares be increased from existing Rs. 6 per km to around Rs. 20 per km. It also demands abolition of 25 per cent commission the drivers are charged by companies.

(ANI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

They are protesting low fares, and want them raised from Rs 6 a km to around Rs 20

The commuters in the Delhi-NCR region are in for a major problem today as the drivers of two app-based cab services Ola and Uber have threatened to go off roads for a day as a mark of protest against "low fares". Prior to this, they had gone on strike in February too, which lasted 13 days affecting transportation in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. The companies had resorted to surge pricing during morning and evening peak hours then. The drivers` association demands that fares be increased from existing Rs. 6 per km to around Rs. 20 per km. It also demands abolition of 25 per cent commission the drivers are charged by companies. (ANI)

Delhi-NCR: Uber, Ola drivers to strike today

Global ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies is rethinking its car leasing strategy in India, its second-biggest market, as drivers have returned dozens of leased cars early after the company cut incentives, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Uber had planned to buy 15,000 new cars last year and lease them out in a bid to attract more drivers - a strategy it has used in other markets - but it suspended the scheme for a while in December after leasing just a third of that total.

After burning through millions of dollars over three years in a battle for market share with local rival Ola, backed by Japan&#39;s Softbank, Uber has cut the incentives it gives to drivers and raised the fares it charges passengers.

The incentives - from free smartphones to cash bonuses worth as much as double a day&#39;s fares - meant drivers could earn as much as 120,000 rupees ($1,838) a month.

Those incentive payments have been pared back, in some cases to as little as 10 per cent of fare income. Ride fares have risen to 1.5 rupees per minute of travel from 1 rupee.

The incentives and, to an extent, the leasing scheme aimed at drivers without their own cars, boosted Uber&#39;s driver numbers, helping it rapidly gain around 30 per cent market share.

Uber has faced challenges elsewhere in Asia, but the stakes are high in India&#39;s $12 billion taxi market, a key area after it exited China last year, and one where CEO Travis Kalanick has said it expects to be profitable soon.

Uber has said its services are in 29 Indian cities and it has more than 250,000 drivers on its platform, but it lags Ola, which says it operates in more than 100 cities with about 550,000 drivers.

&nbsp;

BUSINESS SHIFT

Two people with knowledge of the matter said Uber miscalculated the impact that the reduced incentives would have on drivers` earnings, especially those making lease payments.

At an open meeting for staff in December, around the time the incentives were being reduced, Uber&#39;s India chief Amit Jain said the buying-for-lease scheme was being temporarily suspended while the company evaluated its leasing strategy, one of the sources said.

Uber did not comment on Reuters queries related to Jain&#39;s announcement or the impact of the incentives cuts on its leasing programme.

Raj Beri, business head for leasing in India, said the scheme was set up to help drivers without cars get on its platform and make money. &quot;We are very pleased with our progress toward this goal so far, and look forward to introducing the opportunity to more prospective driver partners this year,&quot; he said in a statement.

In a recent blog post on Uber&#39;s website, Jain defended the cuts to driver incentives and signalled a strategic shift for India. &quot;We can shift from start-up mode to a more sustainable business model,&quot; he wrote.

&nbsp;

&quot;NO BENEFIT IN LEASING&quot;

Leasing is only a small part of Uber&#39;s overall supply in India, but is seen as a way to lock drivers on to its platform for longer, and stop them switching to Ola.

To lease a new small car through Uber&#39;s scheme, drivers pay a 33,000 rupee ($499) deposit - less than what they would pay to buy a car from a dealer with a bank loan. But weekly payments of about 5,500 rupees over three years add up to nearly double what drivers would pay to service a car loan.

That wasn`t an issue when incentives were high.

Several Uber drivers said they feel trapped as a surge in the number of cars on Uber&#39;s platform has led to fewer rides, at a time when incentives have been cut, making it harder to keep up lease payments.

&quot;I&#39;ll not be able to save even 10,000 rupees a month,&quot; said Arjun Chouhan, 38, an Uber driver in Delhi who has leased a car. &quot;There&#39;s no benefit in leasing. What if I&#39;m unwell? They don&#39;t listen.&quot;

In a dusty car lot on Delhi&#39;s outskirts, guards told Reuters that dozens of cars standing idle belonged to Uber and had been returned by drivers.

When Reuters phoned Xchange Leasing, Uber&#39;s local leasing arm that has an office near the car park, officials said no new cars were currently being leased out. One said the priority was to lease those cars returned by drivers, and it could be 2-3 months before new cars would again be offered.

An Uber spokesman said the company doesn&#39;t comment on &quot;anonymous speculation&quot;.

As part of its review, Uber may reduce the three-year lease term and let two drivers share the rent on a car, one of the sources said. 
Uber did not comment on its leasing targets or the future of the scheme.

&quot;People left well-paying jobs to drive an Uber,&quot; said Sandeep, another Delhi driver, adding his monthly ride income has nearly halved to 60,000 rupees in two years, despite working longer hours.

&quot;We were tempted at the thought of becoming millionaires.&quot;

(Reuters)

After burning through millions over three years in a battle for market share, Uber has cut the incentives it gives drivers and raised fares

Global ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies is rethinking its car leasing strategy in India, its second-biggest market, as drivers have returned dozens of leased cars early after the company cut incentives, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Uber had planned to buy 15,000 new cars last year and lease them out in a bid to attract more drivers - a strategy it has used in other markets - but it suspended the scheme for a while in December after leasing just a third of that total. After burning through millions of dollars over three years in a battle for market share with local rival Ola, backed by Japan's Softbank, Uber has cut the incentives it gives to drivers and raised the fares it charges passengers. The incentives - from free smartphones to cash bonuses worth as much as double a day's fares - meant drivers could earn as much as 120,000 rupees ($1,838) a month. Those incentive payments have been pared back, in some cases to as little as 10 per cent of fare income. Ride fares have risen to 1.5 rupees per minute of travel from 1 rupee. The incentives and, to an extent, the leasing scheme aimed at drivers without their own cars, boosted Uber's driver numbers, helping it rapidly gain around 30 per cent market share. Uber has faced challenges elsewhere in Asia, but the stakes are high in India's $12 billion taxi market, a key area after it exited China last year, and one where CEO Travis Kalanick has said it expects to be profitable soon. Uber has said its services are in 29 Indian cities and it has more than 250,000 drivers on its platform, but it lags Ola, which says it operates in more than 100 cities with about 550,000 drivers. BUSINESS SHIFT Two people with knowledge of the matter said Uber miscalculated the impact that the reduced incentives would have on drivers` earnings, especially those making lease payments. At an open meeting for staff in December, around the time the incentives were being reduced, Uber's India chief Amit Jain said the buying-for-lease scheme was being temporarily suspended while the company evaluated its leasing strategy, one of the sources said. Uber did not comment on Reuters queries related to Jain's announcement or the impact of the incentives cuts on its leasing programme. Raj Beri, business head for leasing in India, said the scheme was set up to help drivers without cars get on its platform and make money. "We are very pleased with our progress toward this goal so far, and look forward to introducing the opportunity to more prospective driver partners this year," he said in a statement. In a recent blog post on Uber's website, Jain defended the cuts to driver incentives and signalled a strategic shift for India. "We can shift from start-up mode to a more sustainable business model," he wrote. "NO BENEFIT IN LEASING" Leasing is only a small part of Uber's overall supply in India, but is seen as a way to lock drivers on to its platform for longer, and stop them switching to Ola. To lease a new small car through Uber's scheme, drivers pay a 33,000 rupee ($499) deposit - less than what they would pay to buy a car from a dealer with a bank loan. But weekly payments of about 5,500 rupees over three years add up to nearly double what drivers would pay to service a car loan. That wasn`t an issue when incentives were high. Several Uber drivers said they feel trapped as a surge in the number of cars on Uber's platform has led to fewer rides, at a time when incentives have been cut, making it harder to keep up lease payments. "I'll not be able to save even 10,000 rupees a month," said Arjun Chouhan, 38, an Uber driver in Delhi who has leased a car. "There's no benefit in leasing. What if I'm unwell? They don't listen." In a dusty car lot on Delhi's outskirts, guards told Reuters that dozens of cars standing idle belonged to Uber and had been returned by drivers. When Reuters phoned Xchange Leasing, Uber's local leasing arm that has an office near the car park, officials said no new cars were currently being leased out. One said the priority was to lease those cars returned by drivers, and it could be 2-3 months before new cars would again be offered. An Uber spokesman said the company doesn't comment on "anonymous speculation". As part of its review, Uber may reduce the three-year lease term and let two drivers share the rent on a car, one of the sources said. Uber did not comment on its leasing targets or the future of the scheme. "People left well-paying jobs to drive an Uber," said Sandeep, another Delhi driver, adding his monthly ride income has nearly halved to 60,000 rupees in two years, despite working longer hours. "We were tempted at the thought of becoming millionaires." (Reuters)

Uber stalls India leasing scheme as driver incomes drop: Sources

It will now be possible for the Indian consumers to book a ride with taxi aggregators, Ola and Uber, directly from the Google Search, Indian news agency PTI reported today.&nbsp;

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Tech giant Google had introduced a feature on Google Maps, earlier this year, that offers dedicated tab with information for cab services to the Indian users, in addition to the existing driving, public transport, or walking options. &nbsp;

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&quot;Now with this integration, commuters across the country can ask Google for directions and book ride services directly from Google Search,&quot; Google said in a statement, PTI reported.&nbsp;

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The users will get to see a tab for ride services, both Uber and Ola, with fare estimates and pick-up times if a car is available near their location, it added.

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The Google Search will not only help the user to install the applications if he/ she doesn&#39;t have it on the device but the browser will also direct the user to select a service and automatically open the app to book the ride when the user searches for the options to book the cab.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;Choosing the best transit option can be a task at times. Our aim is to help users simplify their everyday travel. With this, users will be able to order, explore and make quick comparisons about the best estimated taxi fare directly from Google Search results on their mobile,&quot; Google program manager Sanket Gupta has been quoted as saying.&nbsp;

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Ola, in a statement, said the move helps facilitate Ola&#39;s focus on making cab bookings more accessible and seamless for customers everywhere.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

The users will get to see a tab for ride services, both Uber and Ola, with fare estimates and pick-up times if a car is available

It will now be possible for the Indian consumers to book a ride with taxi aggregators, Ola and Uber, directly from the Google Search, Indian news agency PTI reported today. Tech giant Google had introduced a feature on Google Maps, earlier this year, that offers dedicated tab with information for cab services to the Indian users, in addition to the existing driving, public transport, or walking options. "Now with this integration, commuters across the country can ask Google for directions and book ride services directly from Google Search," Google said in a statement, PTI reported. The users will get to see a tab for ride services, both Uber and Ola, with fare estimates and pick-up times if a car is available near their location, it added. The Google Search will not only help the user to install the applications if he/ she doesn't have it on the device but the browser will also direct the user to select a service and automatically open the app to book the ride when the user searches for the options to book the cab. "Choosing the best transit option can be a task at times. Our aim is to help users simplify their everyday travel. With this, users will be able to order, explore and make quick comparisons about the best estimated taxi fare directly from Google Search results on their mobile," Google program manager Sanket Gupta has been quoted as saying. Ola, in a statement, said the move helps facilitate Ola's focus on making cab bookings more accessible and seamless for customers everywhere. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Indian consumers can now book Ola, Uber through Google Search

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